


wz 




REPORT 

of 

Scientific Experiments Conducted in tne Cleveland Public 

Schools for the Purpose of Ascertairrmg the Value 

of Healthy Conditions of the IVr^uth 

Experiments conducted under 
the auspices of 

The National Dental Association, The Ohio State Daital Society, 

The Cleveland Dental Society 

and The Cleveland Board of Education 



1. The Whv, When, Who and What of the Marion School Dentalwilxperiniental Class. 

By W. G. Ebersole, M. D., D. D. S., Sec'y-Treas. of the Natifnal Mouth Hygiene 
Association. Page 3. 

2. Final Report made to the Cleveland Board of Education, by the Cjiairman of the Oral 

Hygiene Committee of the National Dental Association. Pag/ 9. 

3. Report of the work in October number of the Dentists Record. F je 10. 

4. Oral Hyoiene as it Appeals to Education. By Miss Cordelia L. O-NpiiI. Principal of 

Marion School, Cleveland, O. Page 13. 

.5. Individual Records of the Children. Page 20. 

(i. Assistant Sujjerintendent Warren E. Hicks' Letter Relating to the Value of the Marion 
School Dental Experiment. Page 31. 

7. Statement from the Chairman of the Education and Oral Hvgiene Committee of the 
Ohio State Dental Society. Page 32. 

5. Statement from the Education and Oral Hygiene Committee of the Cleveland Dental 

Society. Page 32. 

9. Statement of Assistant Superintendent H. C. Muckley, Cleveland Public Schools. 
Page 33. 

10. Statement of Assistant Superintendent Warren E. Hicks, Cleveland Public Schools. 

Page 33. 

11. Re.solution by Cleveland Dental Society, Giving Credit for the Expt^rimental Work. 

Page .34. 

12. Frequency With Which Tuberculosis Occurs Among School Teachers. State Depart- 

ment of Health, Michigan. Page 34. 

Published and Distributed by 

THE NATIONAL MOUTH HYGIENE ASSOCIATION 

800 Schofieid Building, Cleveland, Ohio 

.April I. 1912 Copyright 1912, by 

The National Mouth Hygiene Association 



ICI.A311643- 



V 



.^^ 
p^^- 



The WHY, WHEN, WHO and WHAT 

of 
THE MARION SCHOOL DENTAL EXPERIMENTAL CLASS. 

By 

W. G. EBERSOLE, M. I)., D. I). S., Cleveland, Ohio 

Secretary-Treasurer of The National Mouth HyRiene Association, 

Chairman of the Oral hygiene Committee of The National Dental Association. 



For years many dentists have been at- 
tempting to teach IMouth Hygiene from an 
aUruistic standpoint. Ijoth health and edu- 
cational authorities have been approached 
time after time by these men who have 
argued the teaching of Mouth Hygiene, 
both from the altruistic and economic stand- 
points. Owing to the lack of substantial 
proof of value, little consideration was 
given the efforts of the disciples of Mouth 
Hygiene. For years the writer has main- 
tained that the only way of presenting the 
importance of the mouth to the public was 
to make a practical demonstration of its 
actual value by conducting a series of scien- 
tific experiments on a scale large enough, 
broad enough, and at the same time under 
such conditions that these experiments 
would be considered not only of value from 
an altruistic basis, but thoroughly scientific 
as well. 

In 1909 as Chairman of the Oral Hygiene 
Committee of the National Dental Associa- 
tion, the writer assumed the responsibility 
for putting into execution a series of ex- 
periments from which to obtain data that 
would enable us to determine the relation 
the human mouth bore to the health, 
strength and working efficiency of mankind. 
Later, this obligation was assumed by the 
Oral Hygiene Committee of the National 
Dental Association, and the Educational 
and Oral Hygiene Committees of the Ohio 
State Dental Society, and the Cleveland 
Dental Society. The result of these experi- 
ments showed about ^7^( of the public 
school children of this country had dis- 
eased or faultv mouths. A series of ex- 
periments begun on 40 public school chil- 
dren showed an average increase in work- 
ing efficiency of 99.8+% for the 27 pupils 
finishing the test. The increase was due 
to the correction of the faulty conditions 
of the mouth and the teaching of the cor- 
rect CARE and USE of the same. 



When the publication of this booklet was 
first contemplated, this article was not in 
tliought. Delay in going to press has en- 
abled us to profit by the comment and criti- 
cism which has followed the presentation 
of Miss Cordelia L. O'Neill's paper and 
the Marion School Class to the National 
Dental Association, the Cleveland Dental 
Society and the Board of Education, and 
the publication of these statements and 
facts in the various dental journals. 

The letters of praise and commendation 
of the work have been most gratifying in- 
deed. Letters from those seeking fuller 
information and details relative to our work 
have almost "swamped" our stenographic 
force. Some criticism has been offered as 
to the value of the statistics produced, and 
the manner of obtaining them, but the 
criticism in the main has been only such 
as would naturally be expected where a full 
understanding of all facts and details was 
not at command. 

Honest and conscientious criticism has 
wielded a wonderful influence for good, and 
those who are doing things worth while 
welcome it as an agent which points to 
possible weaknesses, thus giving an oppor- 
tunity to correct unseen faults. 

With a view to giving fuller information 
and placing special emphasis upon certain 
details, that those seeking knowledge and 
those who are inclined to criticise may have 
the most information before them, this ar- 
ticle is written. If to the reader the state- 
ments seem unusually forceftd and 
pointed, remember that we are not only 
trying to answer honest criticism, but are 
endeavoring to place facts and truths in 
such a manner that there will be the least 
possible oj)portunity for misunderstanding 
the conditions and circumstances under 
whicli this service was rendered. 

The subject with which this booklet has 
to deal is but a small part of the great Edu- 



calioiial Campaiji^n which was inaiio^urated 
l)y the National Dental Association, in 
Cleveland, on March 18, 1910, for the pur- 
pose of teaching Mouth Hygiene. As com- 
pared with the general scope of the work 
planned andundertaken, the Marion School 
Class experiments represent but a "drop in 
the bucket." The w^ork which has been 
done in this connection was considered but 
one of the foimdation stones upon which to 
construct the National campaign. 

ISehind this important part of the move- 
ment stood the National Dental Associa- 
tion, the Ohio State Dental Society, the 
Cleveland Dental Society and the Cleveland 
Board of Education, as the forces which 
made these experiments possible. The work 
was accomplished through the committees 
of these organizations, and the committees 
worked through the individuals, each being 
an instrument of the other in the order 
named. Through individual activities were 
the ways for the work opened, but back of 
the individual stood the committee, and 
l)ack of the committees the parent organi- 
zations, else results could not have been ob- 
tained. 

In behalf of those who stood upon the 
liring line, the writer wishes to impress 
upon the reader the fact that the men doing 
this work were fully aware that the experi- 
ments were not conducted under ideal con- 
ditions. Two or three requisites which w^ere 
necessary to the execution of an ideal plan 
were omitted, due to the serious illness of 
one of the workers, and a lack of complete 
facilities for making physiological and psy- 
chological tests. But while this is true, he 
wishes also to impress upon him the fact 
that these men were more keenly alive to the 
value and importance of the work they 
were undertaking, than most students of 
Mouth Hygiene. In fact, one of the most 
important revelations in connection with 
this work is being made for the first time 
in connection with this booklet, and that 
is the value or relation that this work bears 
to public school medical inspection, as in- 
stalled and conducted in the various parts 
of this country. 

Tt is to name the weak points and em- 
l)hasize the strong ones in connection with 
this work, that this Introductory Article 
is being presented in connection with this 
booklet. 

There were three things which operated 
to prevent these experiments from being 



su.ch as would meet the ideals of those in- 
terested in the work : 

First — There had been no experiments 
of this kind executed prior to this time, 
which could be used as a foundation or 
basis from which to work, and no psycho- 
logical tests for this work were in exist- 
ence. 

Second — A severe illness and continued 
ill health prevented the originator of this 
work from extending the experiments to 
a class of children who were to be used as 
"norms," or "controls," and from whom he 
had hoped to secure statistics which would 
give a correct idea of the average in- 
crease in working efficiency of school chil- 
dren from a psychological standpoint, in 
spite of faulty oral conditions. 

Third — The committee were unable to in- 
stall and execute a number of experiments 
which would have enabled them to measure 
scientifically the actual improvement in the 
physical condition of these children. 

Aside from the exceptions above noted, 
the work in connection with this class was 
ideal, and conducted under circumstances 
and conditions which gave results that can- 
not be questioned, nor honestly disputed by 
any one who will take the time to carefully 
investigate the records and the manner of 
conducting the work. 

Aside from the original examination, de- 
livering of lectures, teaching the correct 
CARE and USE of the mouth and the 
correction of those faulty conditions which 
required the service of a dentist, no den- 
tists had anything to do with the experi- 
mental work, except in originating the plan 
and in holding stop-watches at the time 
psychological tests were made. All psy- 
chological tests and the mathematical prob- 
lems presented in figuring out results, were 
made either by Dr. J. E. W. Wallin, the 
expert psychologist, assisted by Miss Cor- 
delia L. O'Neill, the Principal of the School, 
Mrs. Van Gastle, the dental nurse, and two 
or three of the members of the teaching 
stafif; or made by Miss O'Neill and a 
corps of her teaching assistants, including 
the dental nurse, working under the in- 
struction and direction of the expert psy- 
chologist. 

The grading of the tests and the figuring 
out of the percentages was all done by those 
outside of the dental profession, and by 
those whose principal interests were to see 
and know the actual benefits the children 



derived from the correction of fault) oral 
conditions and the instruction as to the 
proper CARE and USE of the human 
mouth. 

For four years preceding our experi- 
ments, Marion School had been under the 
care of one of the most competent medical 
inspectors in the country. Investigation 
shows that none of the children entering 
the class had received any medical or surgi- 
cal attention prior to om- experiments, that 
could in any way contribute beneficially to 
the results obtained from dental work and 
instruction. From the time these children 
were received into this class until the com- 
pletion of our experiments, they received 
ABSOLUTELY no medical treatment or 
surgical care of any kind with but one ex- 
ception, and this case — Hannah Cohen — 
(No. 4), was operated upon for adenoids 
less than one month before the final tests 
were made. The only possible effect that 
could be derived from a surgical operation 
occurring so late during the period of ex- 
perimentation, Avould be the depression and 
nervous exhaustion produced by the shock 
and severe suffering which always follows 
an operation for a severe case of adenoids 
upon a child of that age. 

Frank Silverstein (No. 25), the boy who 
was constantly suffering with "heart trou- 
l)le," and was so susceptible to colds, was 
a surprise to us in view of the fact that he 
was confined for a number of weeks with 
his five brothers and sisters, and helped 
nurse all the other children througli severe 
attacks of scarlet fever, without taking it 
himself. The family physician examined 
him at that time and expressed the belief 
that Frank's immunity was due to his ex- 
cellent physical condition and the manner 
in which he CARED for and USED his 
mouth. 

Let me repe.vt most emphatically, 

THAT there had BEEN ABSOLUTELY NO 
MEDICAL OR SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ANY 
KIND GIVEN TO THESE CHILDREN WHICH 
WOULD IN ANY WAY INFLUENCE THE PHY- 
SICAL RESULTS. EXCEPT DENTAL CARE, TRE.\T- 
MF.NT AND INSTRl'CTIOX. 

In connection with our various written de- 
scriptions of the work of this class, we have 
spoken frequently of the CARE and USE 
of the mouth. The writer would not have 
the reader understand for a minute that all 
the gain shown by the psychological test 
was due to correcting faulty conditions of 



the mouth, and teaching the child how to 
care for the same; much of the benefit was 
derived from teaching the child to kntnv 
and understand how to correctly USE the 
mouth, as well as to properly CARE for it. 
The teaching of how to chew food, and 
when to swallow it, and teaching not to use 
the mouth as an air passage, had also some- 
thing to do with the results obtained. Then 
again, part -of the increase shown in con- 
nection with our psychological tests was 
due to the usual increase in working elifi- 
ciency, which resulted during the school 
year, under the regular, or so-called "nor- 
mal" or "prevailing conditions." 

That increase in working efficiency which 
occurs usually or regularly during the years' 
growth of a child, is the only deduction 
which should be made from the figures rep- 
resented in connection with the report of 
the class, all other increase in work- 
ing EFFICIENCY MUST BE CREDITED ABSO- 
LUTELY AND UNEQUIVOCALLY TO THE RE- 
SULTS OBTAINED BY CORRECTING FAULTY 
CONDITIONS, AND TEACHING THE CHILDREX 
TO PROPERLY USE AND CARE FOR THEIR 
MOUTHS. 

One of the most important things in deal- 
ing with unhygienic conditions of the 
mouth is to teach the individual how to 
USE the mouth as a GRINDING MA- 
CHINE for food. 

By referring to Miss O'Neill's pa])er. 
Page 13 you will find the following state- 
ment made, relative to the results obtained 
through medical inspection : "Though liv- 
ing under the same social, economic and in- 
dustrial conditions, as the pupils in adjacent 
school districts, the children at Alarion 
School invariably impressed visitors, official 
and otherwise, as being children of a more 
fortunate type, physically, mentally and 
morally." 

Let me call your attention to three facts 
which the casual reader of this booklet may 
overlook : 

First — Marion school is situated in the 
very heart of the Ghetto district. 

Second — These children were selected as 
40 of those having the worst oral condi- 
tions in grades 4, 5. 6, and 7 of a school 
having 846 pupils. Grades 4. 5, 6 and 7 in- 
clude about half the pupils in the school, 
therefore the class was selected as 40 hav- 
ing the worst oral conditions out of 423. 
The class, therefore, practically represented 



\0%, of the pupils from among whom 
ihcy were selected. 

The third important fact that the writer 
wishes to call your attention to, is that 
NOTWITHSTANDING MEDICAL IN- 
Sl'ECTION had been responsible for 
changing the general conditions of the 
school to a point where — "The children at 
]^Iarion School invariably impressed visi- 
tors, official or otherwise, as being children 
of a more fortunate tvpe physically, men- 
tally and morally," MEDICAL INSPEC- 
TION HAD NOT been able, in her four 
years' Avork, to change the condition of 
these children physically, mentally and mor- 
ally, beyond that condition in which we 
found them at the time we began our work. 
The physical, mental and moral conditions 
of those children existed in spite of all 
that medical inspection and instruction had 
been able to accomplish for them, there- 
fore THE IMPROVEMENT SHOWN FROM A 
PHYSICAL, MORAL AND MENTAL STANDPOINT 
MUST BE .\TTRIBUTED TO DENTAL INSPEC- 
TION AND INSTRUCTION ALONE. 

Understand then, as you read the history 
of child after child, that each one of them 
had already received the benefit to be de- 
rived from medical inspection ; had been 
inspected and received instruction at the 
hands of one of the best and most compe- 
tent medical inspectors in the country, and 
had been under the constant surveillance 
of a trained nurse of unusual ability in the 
medical line, and then remember that the 
conditions which existed when these chil- 
dren were received were in existence after 
medical inspection and instruction had ex- 
hausted its influence in their behalf. 

The experiments, instituted for the pur- 
pose of showing the v^lue of dental inspec- 
tion and instruction, are therefore of addi- 
tional value to those interested in Mouth 
Hygiene, because they show the ben- 

l.I rrS TO BE DERIVED AFTER MEDICAL IN- 
SPECTION AND INSTRUCTION HAS GIVEN ITS 
T.EST TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN. 

The writer is therefore unable to make 
a definite statement of just how much value 
would accrue to a class of children selected 
from a school situated under similar cir- 
cumstances to that of Marion, in which 
medical inspection had not been installed. 
This, from one standpoint of reasoning, 
weakens the result of the work, but the 
experiments are of decidedh more value 
to those interested in teaching Oral Hy- 



giene, because of the fact that the medi- 
cal profession and many of the ediicational 
fraternity are maintaining and arguing to- 
day that medical inspection is all that is 
necessary, and that medical inspectors are 
competent to examine the month and in- 
struct the pupils in the CARE and USE 
of the same. These experiments, therefore, 
are of tremendous value in refuting the 

CLAIM OF those MEMBERS OF THE MEDI- 
CAL PROFESSION AND MEMBERS OF THE EDU- 
CATIONAL FRATERNITY, WHO CLAIM THAT 
MEDICAL INSPECTION IS SUFFICIENT, becaUSC 

they have been brought about after medical 
inspection and instruction of high grade, 
conducted by one who had the interest of 
humanity at heart, who had unusual quali- 
fications for the work he had undertaken, 
and had obtained all for these children that 
was possible under existing circumstances. 

Do NOT UNDERSTAND FOR A MOMENT that 

those interested in this work wish to an- 
tagonize or depreciate the value of medi- 
cal inspection in connection with public 
schools ; every one of those interested in 
this work fully recognize the importance of 
medical inspection and its value to the pub- 
lic schools of the country. The only 
fault that dentists find with medical inspec- 
tion and those who have been interested in it, 
is that they have failed to recognize the 
importance of the mouth. For this they 
are not to blame. It is to the dental pro- 
fession, and the dental profession alone, 
that the lack of interest in Mouth Hygiene 
is due. They have not educated the medi- 
cal or teaching professions to a point where 
they recognize the importance that the hu- 
man mouth bears to the health, strength, 
beauty and happiness of mankind. That 
all may know and understand the value of 
the human mouth, and that Mouth Hygiene 
may receive the full recognition to which 
it is entitled, these experiments were un- 
dertaken. For the present, the medi- 
cal inspection staff in the public 
schools of this country, must include 

a CORPS of DENTAL INSPECTORS and IN- 
STRUCTORS, if the greatest GOOD IS TO BE 
DONE TO THE GREATEST NUMBER. WhEN 

the medical profession has been so edu- 
cated that it knoivs and understands to 
the fullest extent the value of Mouth Hy- 
giene, THEN and THEN only will a gradu- 
ate of medicine be capable of intelligently 
handling the question of Mouth Hygiene, 
and this condition will only come when 
the medical colleges of this country recog- 



6 



nize and teach the full importance of the 
mouth to their students, and until such a 
time dental inspectors and instructors must 
be employed in connection \vith the public 
schools of this country. 

The inquiry has frequently been made 
l)oth by medical and educational people, as 
to whether we did not believe the medical 
inspectors in the schools would not detect 
and send to dental clinics more work than 
it would be possible to find dentists to do, 
and if that was the case was it not the wise 
thing to use dentists only for clinical pur- 
poses ? 

To the first half of the question the writer 
answers — yes. The oral conditions of the 
school children are such that any kind of a 
medical inspector, if he has been instructed 
to look for faulty conditions of the mouth, 
would be able to find more need for dental 
services than he could possibly find dentists 
to correct. But to the last half of the ques- 
tion he answers — NO. The main value in 
sending a special dental inspector into the 
schools is for the purpose of producing a 
psychological effect, impressing upon the 
parents, in a way otherwise impossible, the 
importance of the mouth. The examina- 
tion of the mouth by a dental inspector, and 
the sending into the home a special blank, 
calling attention to the mouth alone, will 
do more to correct the faulty conditions we 
find in the schools than any other method 
of procedure. 

For years the medical profession has 
been calling attention to every organ of the 
lx)dy except the mouth, giving this organ 
no thought or consideration. Therefore, if 
medical inspectors were placed in the 
schools and were to examine the entire 
liody and mark the eyes, or the ears, or 
the nose, or the throat, in fact any other 
organ or part of the body as defective, and 
in need of treatment, and then mark the 
mouth as faulty, every other organ or part 
of the body would be given consideration 
before any thought or attention was turned 
to the mouth. This would occur because 
])eople have not been taught to know the 
value of the mouth and its care and use. 

It is a difficult matter to disabuse the 
minds of the average educational and medi- 
cal authority of the thought that in its 
Educational Campaign the National Alouth 
Hygiene Association is trying to correct the 
faulty conditions which are found. There 
are not enough dentists in the United States 



to take care of the school children alone, if 
all faulty conditions were to be corrected. 
The Educational Campaign of the National 
Mouth Hygiene Association is directed 
towards prevention. It is the ])urpose of 
this organization, of which the writer is 
Secretary-treasurer, to so educate the peo- 
ple that conditions which now exist will be- 
come impossible in the future. 

We desire to correct faulty conditions 
in so far as it lies in our power but the 
task is beyond possibility. Our hope 
lies in teaching prevention. To do this 
we must teach the value of the mouth, and 
to accomplish this in a reasonable time the 
dental inspector in our public schools is 
an absolute necessity for the present. 

Let us turn for a moment to the records 
made by the children of the special class 
in Marion school. We have stated that 
part of the 99.8-)-% increase in working 
efficiency shown by the children was due to 
the natural development of the child during 
the year. In addition to this we would say 
that the general average has been materi- 
ally affected by the phenomenal showing 
made by two of the children in the class, 
viz., Hannah Cohen and Lillian Semlakow- 
sky. The improvement shown by both of 
these children was based upon exactly the 
same set of tests as those conducted for 
the other children, and represents the work- 
ing efficiency of these children from a psy- 
chological standpoint at the time they were 
received into the class and at the time the 
work was finished. Hannah Cohen's phe- 
nomenal increase was shown in Association 
by Opposites, and Quickness and Accuracy 
of Perception ; while Lillian Semlakowsky's 
phenomenal increase was made in Associa- 
tion by Opposites. 

As an offset to this, however, we must 
call the reader's attention to the fact that 
Beckie Goldstein, who was in need of more 
care and attention from a dental standpoint 
than any other child in the class, worked 
under a serious handica]-) during the entire 
year. First, she had one of the wor.st cases 
of mal-occlusion (irregularity of the teeth), 
and was under constant treatment for the 
correction of this defect in addition to hav- 
ing teeth filled and treated. The treatment 
for mal-occlusion was not discontinued 
until some considerable time after the final 
tests had been taken. This of itself was a 
constant source of annt^yance and retarded 
her iiuprovement very materially throughout 



the year. In addition to this she was out 
of school for a number of weeks caring for 
a two-weeks-old baby that had been left in 
her charge at the time her mother was in- 
jured and had to be taken to the hospital. 
During the entire time she was out of 
school and much of the time after she re- 
turned, her rest was broken in caring for 
the infant. This girl made one of the small- 
est percentages of increase in working efli- 
ciency, but those interested in conducting 
the work feel that if she had had an equal 
show with the rest of the children her per- 
centage of increase would have been among 
the highest if not the highest. 

In fact the physical improvement which 
has occurred in this case since the removal 
of the regulating appliance has been so re- 
markable that it does not seem possible 
that such a change could take place in so 
short a time, about a year and a half.* A 
glance at the picture of this child on page 
— will verify this statement. 

Frank Silverstein was also in need of 
much help. He was out of school for a 
number of weeks at the time the other chil- 
dren in the family had scarlet fever, and 
here again was considerable loss occasioned 
in a case where we had every reason to 
expect a very much higher percentage of 
increase. 

With these two children, Beckie Gold- 
stein and Frank Silverstein, we must figure 
that they were seriously handicapped and 
the loss occasioned by this handicap must 
be considered as an offset in a measure at 
least for the large showing made by Han- 
nah Cohen and Lillian Semlakowsky. 

In ascertaining the working efficiency of 
these children from the psychological 
standpoint, the following plan was pursued : 

Memory Test — A card containing ten 
numbers of three digits each, printed in 
large black type so as to be seen from all 
j)arts of the room, was displayed for forty- 
five (45) seconds. ' This card was then re- 
moved and the children allowed sixty (60) 
seconds in which to write these numl)crs 
from memory. 

Spontaneous Association Test — E a c h 
child was given a slip containing a column 
of thirty (30) common words (each fol- 



*0\ving to the fact that this girl was' wearing 
a regulating appliance her picture was not taken 
at the time the others were, ahout six months 
intervening. 



lowed by a blank space) and instructed to 
write down the first word that came into 
their minds after reading the word on the 
slip. Eighty-five (85) seconds was the time 
allowed for this test. As an illustration, 
if the word "horse" appeared, the child 
might write "ride" or "drive." — "House," 
"build'' or "home." — "Apple, "eat or 
"tree," etc. 

Addition Test — Each child was given a 
slip containing thirty-two (32) columns of 
ten (10) numbers of one digit each; and 
they were given one hundred and twenty 
(120) seconds in which to add as many of 
these columns as possible. 

Association by Opposites Test — Each 
child was given a slip containing twenty-five 
(25) words (each followed by a blank 
space), and they are given eighty- five (85) 
seconds in which to write the antonyms or 
opposites of the given words. As, for in- 
stance, the word "day," appearing on the 
card the child would write "night"; "boy," 
"girl"; "false," "true"; "gain," loss," etc. 

Quickness and Accuracy of Perception 
Test — Each child was given a card contain- 
ing all the letters of the alphabet in capitals, 
arranged promiscuously in twenty-six lines 
(thirty-eight capital letters in each line). 
One hundred (100) seconds were then 
given in which the child was to cross out 
the capital A's. • 

Six tests were provided. The figures, 
words, and arrangement were entirely new 
in each set of tests. 

Before beginning dental treatment or 
work with the class, two tests were made a 
week apart to determine the percentage of 
the work they were able to accomplish ; and 
the average of these two tests was taken as 
the psychological working efficiency at the 
time the work was begun. At the end of 
the experimental stage or period, two tests 
were again made and the percentage of the 
work they were able to accomplish ascer- 
tained. The average of these two tests was 
taken as the working efficiency of the child 
at the time our experiments were com- 
pleted. To ascertain the improvement that 
each child made, a comparison was made 
with the work the child was able to accom- 
plish at the time of being received into the 
class. 

We have been asked in a number of let- 
ters to define the duties of the dental nurse, 
and will say that Mrs. Van Gastle's duties 
were to look after the children, to sec that 



they carried out tlic instructions given them, 
both in caring for their teeth in the way 
of cleansing them, and in going to the den- 
tal clinic until the faulty conditions were 
corrected. She also taught them how to 
use the mouth, that is how to chew their 
food, and not wash it down with liquids, 
visiting tiiem at their homes, frequently, to 
ascertain whether they were carrying out 
instructions or not. The only interference 
made with the regular diet of the children, 
was to correct the faulty impression exist- 
ing in many homes, that children should be 
fed on "sloppy" foods, and Mrs. Van Gas- 
tie informed the parents that the children's 
food should be served to them in a way that 
required chewing and that they should not 
make use of liquids in washing their food 
down without chewing it. 

Two tests, or experimental meals, were 
served to the children at the Marion School 
in order to teach them how to chew the 
various kinds of foods. Aside from this 
there was absolutely no effort made to 
change or provide food stuffs of any kind, 
for the children of this class. Every pos- 
sible effort was made, as stated in Miss 
U'Neill's paper, to prevent these children 
having any attention or consideration from 
any standpoint which would tend to influ- 
ence the fnial results other than that given 



by actual dental care- and instruction. This 
of course included not only teaching the 
child how to clean the teeth, but how to use 
them, and the kind of foods that are most 
conducive to healthy mouths v.licn properly 
masticated. 

The writer's Committee associates in 
this work were: — Richard Grady, D. D. 
S., M. D., Annapolis, Md. ; John P. Corley, 
M. D., D. D. S., Sewanee, Tenn. ; E. V. 
Dameron, D. D. S., St. Louis Mo. ; \V. A. 
White, D. D. S., Phelps, N. Y. ; H. C. 
Thompson, D. D. S., Washington, D. C. ; 
Paul W. White, D. D. S., Boston, Mass.; 
and P.. Holly Smith, M. D., D. D. S., Bal- 
timore, Md., members of the Oral Hygiene 
Committee of the National Dental Asso- 
ciation. 

W. T. Jackman, D. D. S., Chairman, 
Cleveland, O. ; Sidney J. Rauh, I). D. S., 
Cincinnati, O., and S. M. Semans, D. D. 
S., Columbus, O., members of the Educa- 
tion and Oral Hygiene Committee of the 
Ohio State Dental Society. 

J. R. Owens, D. D. S., Cleveland, O.. 
Weston A. Price, M. E. D. D. S.. of Cleve- 
land, O., and Frank Acker, M. D., D. D. 
S. Cleveland, O., members of the Education 
and Oral Hygiene Committee of the Cleve- 
land Dental Society. 



REPORT RENDERED TO THE CLEVELAND BOARD OF EDUCATION 
RELATIVE TO THE EXPERIMENTS WHICH WERE CONDUCTED IN 
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DEMONSTRAT- 
ING THE IMPORTANCE OF MOUTH HYGIENE. 



Cleveland, O.. Dec. IG, 1S)1L 

To the Honorali/e Members 

of the Board of Education, 

Greeting : 

In a report rendered Feb. 18, 1911 to 
your P)Oard, which contained a preliminary 
statement of the facts obtained as the result 
of the experimental work which was con- 
ducted under the auspices of the Oral Hy- 
giene Committee of the National Dental 
Association, the Education and Oral Hy- 
giene Committee of the Ohio State Dental 
Society, and the Education and Oral Hy- 
giene Committee of the Cleveland Dental 
Society, these committees promised to 
render a full and complete report of the 



results obtained when the work was fm- 
ished. 

In presenting to you a complete report 
of the experimental work conducted by the 
above mentioned committees, will say that 
the work was completed May 17th, U>11, 
and the final jiercentagcs worked out by the 
1st of June, but owing to the ill health of 
the Chairman of the Oral Hygiene Com- 
mittee of the National Dental Association, 
who has been an invalid from the comple- 
tion of this work down to the present time, 
and who is, at this writing, dictating this 
report from his bed, this report has been 
delayed. 

A desire to have the complete report pre- 
sented to the members of the P>oard who 
have been with this work from its inception, 



leads us to make the rejiort at this time, 
even though the writer is unable to pre- 
sent such a report as he had desired and 
planned. 

\Ve beg to announce to you that the final 
results of the experimental work, as con- 
ducted by us, showed an average increase 
in working efficiency, in the class, of 99.8 
plus per cent., as based upon psychological 
test^. Jn addition to this showing, from a 
p-^ychological standpoint, the increase in 
liealth, strength and beauty was so marked 
as to be considered marvelous, by those 
who watched the developments resulting 
from this work. 

We wish to say to your Honorable Body 
that the first announcement of results ob- 
tained, was made at a meeting of the 
National Dental Association which was 
held in this city July 25th to 28th inclu- 
sive, at which time there was assembled the 
largest body of dentists in the history 
of the world — something over 3,200 in 
attendance. The results were announced 
at a special Oral Hygiene meeting held 
Wednesday evening July 26, 1910 to 
which the members of your organization 
received an invitation. For the benefit of 
those members who did not attend this 
meeting, the writer wishes to say that fol- 
lowing the announcement of the fact that 
an average of 99.8 plus per cent, had been 
secured for 27 children of the class, the 
class was presented in groups and indi- 
vidually by Miss O'Neill. This presenta- 
tion was made in connection with a paper 
so full of interest, and presenting facts of 
such tremendous value that it led to one 
of the most enthusiastic demonstrations 
that has ever taken place in the history of 
the National Dental Association. In fact, 
the dignified members of that organization 
were so pleased with the results obtained 
that they reminded one of a lot of poli- 
ticians "rooting" for their favorite candi- 
dates at a political convention. 

i<\- THIS MEETING THE ''dENTIST.S RECORd" 

said: 

"The Oral Hygiene Committee of the 
National Dental Association under the di- 
rection of Dr. Ebersole, furnished a pro- 
gram unique, instructive and convincing, 
such as has never before been witnessed. 
The great audience room was crowded to 
overflowing and a more enthusiastic audi- 
ence rarely assembles for any occasion. Dr. 



Ebersole outlined briefly what had been ac- 
complished by his committee since its ap- 
pointment, then Miss Cordelia O'Neill, 
Principal of Marion School, Cleveland, 
Ohio, read a paper on 'Oral Hygiene From 
An Educational Standpoint' and made a 
'Pr(\sentation of the Sealed Results of the 
Final Tests of the Marion School Exper- 
imental Clasps.' The members of this class, 
about thirty in number, occupied seats on 
the stage, each arising as his or her name 
was called, the conditions in the beginning 
stated, and the. amount of improvement as 
the result' of dental work performed noted. 
These children had been selected from the 
Ghetto, most of them two, three and four 
years behind children of the same age in 
their studies, no attention whatever having 
been paid to their teeth, and it was even 
found necessary at the very beginning of 
this experiment to have test meals in order 
to instruct the children how to masticate 
and use the tooth brush. As the mental 
and physical improvement in each child was 
announced, the audience cheered and ap- 
plauded, and when Miss O'Neill stated that 
the mental improvement of the class as a 
whole, as ascertained by school records and 
psychological tests, was ninety-nine and 
seven-tenths per cent, plus, the audience 
simply went wild with enthusiasm, handker- 
chiefs and hats were in evidence all over 
the room, and cheering, such as that audi- 
torium probably had never witnessed be- 
fore. 

"The paper of Principal O'Neill was a 
most remarkable one, and it is incumbent 
upon us to see that a copy finds its way 
into the hands of every university and col- 
lege president, every school teacher in the 
country, every superintendent of public in- 
struction, every member of a school board, 
every mother and prospective mother. Com- 
ing from one outside of our profession, and 
from one who was intimately associated 
with these tests, and made them possible, 
the paper will accomplish- far more good 
than anything emanating from a member of 
the dental profession. 

''Friday night was held as announced 
'An Oral Hygiene Conference.' The ob- 
ject of this meeting was to formulate plans 
for a wider and more extensive awakening 
of the general public in Oral Hygiene and 
a number of brief s])eeches were made look- 
ing to this end. 



10 



"As the result of this nieetincj a national 
movement was inaugurated, organization 
perfected, and Mr. Horace Fletcher was 
elected president. Among the vice pres- 
idents are to be found such names as Health 
Commissioner Porter of New York State, 
Oscar Dowling, 3rd vice president, Louis- 
iana State Board of Health, Ex-Health 
Commissioner Evans of Chicago, and 
others equally well known. Dr. \\'. G. 
Eberstile of Cleveland was elected secre- 
tary, and may (iod build him up physically 



for this 1 Icrculean task. 'I'his movement 
augers to surpass the great tuberculosis cru- 
sade being so warmly waged at the i:)resent 
time by ])hysicians and huMianitarians." 

The results obtained were considered of 
such vital importance that it was felt nec- 
essary to form a new National organization 
for the purpose of teaching and pi racliiiig 
Mouth Hygiene in this country and there- 
fore the National Mouth Hygiene Asso- 
ciation was formed with the following 
official staff : 



NATIONAL MOITM HYGIENE ASSOCIATION 

Al-f- I'llObKSSIONS - ALJL 1.AYMEN ASSOCIATION 
l-inST ANNUAL SESSION WILL HE HELD IN WASHIKOTON D. C, SF.rTKMllER 1 .') AND II. 1 1) 1 i 



MR. IIOUACE I-LETCIIUR. Prrsulenl 
Aulhor of "Tlic S. B. /,. of Our Ovmi Nutrilion'' 
"Tlie New McnCiciiUurc" 
"Tlic New Glutton or Eiiicure" 
"Hapnincss" 
••The last Wail" 

New York Citv 

EUGENE H. PORTER. .M D.. ist Vice PrtiuienI 

Commissioner of Hcallli. New Vork Slate 

.Albany. N Y 

W A. E\'ANS, M. n., 2nd Vue Prrsident 

Ex-Commissioner of Health 

Chicago. Ill 

OSCAK nOWI.ING, M Xl.srd Vut I'ttudtnt 

President. Louisiana State Board of Health 

Shrkveport. La 

\V (; EBERSOLE. M D.. D D S.. Src.Treai 

Chairman of the Oral Hvcicne Committee of 

Tlie National Hcnl.il Absoriation 19I191912 

tlWI Schoheld liuildine 

Clkvelanu. 



I5oAni> OF GOVEBNOBS 

KICUAKD GRAUV. I) D.S., M D 

Chairman of the Oral Hvficne Committee of Thi 

National Dental .Association, 18;i9I904 

Annapolis, Md 

JOHN P CORLEY. M. U.. D D S 
Chairman of Ihe Oral Hygiene Committee of The 

Southern Branch of the N D. A 

Chairman of the Oral Hysiene Committee of The 

National Dental Association, 1904 1909 

Sewaneb. Tenn 

E. P. DAMERON. D. D S. 

Vice Chairman of Ihe Oral Hvt'iene Committee o 

The National Dental Assnciation, 19(191911 

St Louis, Mo 

VV A. WHITE. D. D. S. 

Denial Lecturer and Consultant, New York Slat 

Department ol Health 

Phelps. N. Y 

H. C.THOMPSON, I). D S. 

Ex-Chairman of Committee on Oral Hyuiene ol 

Ihe District of Columbia Dental Society 

Washington, D C 



B. HOLLY SMITH, .M. D.. D. D. S. 

Chairman ol Oral Hygiene Council ol Maryland 

Baltimore, Mu. 

MISS CORDELIA L. O'NEILL 

Principal of Marion School 

Cleveland, Ohio 

MRS. FRANCES G.SMITH 

Ex Corresiiondini; Secretary. The Maryland 

Federation ol Women's Clubs 

Baltimore. Mi». 

MRS. ELLA FLAGG YOUNG 

Superintendent r>l Schools 

Chicago. Ill 



Cliairma 



Nnlii 



al Health 



Conn. 

HON JdllN KEVEKIIKiK. H. S, B. Pd., A. ) 

Sui.erint.-net.-nl ol Schools 

Co'j.NciL Bli'i rs. Iowa 

MISS MARTHA TAYLOR 

Department of Child llyijienc. Russell S»ge 

Foundation 

New York. N. Y. 



This, as you will see, is an all profes- 
sion, all lay organization, and the writer, 
who was selected as Secretary-Treasurer, 
was given the power to carry on research 
work on a more extensive scale than has 
been done heretofore. 

When we came before your Honorable 
Body as Chairman of the Oral Hygiene 
Committee of the National Dental Asso- 
ciation, and the Educational and Oral Hy- 
giene Committee of the Cleveland Dental 
Society asking permission to go into your 
schools and conduct experiments, of which 
we are herein enclosing complete report, we 
not only predicted that we would show 50% 
increase in working efficiency of children 
upon whom these tests were made, but 
stated that we believed we would turn the 
attention of the entire world upon the 
Cleveland Public Schools, as a result of 
this work. We wish to state to you at this 
time that both jiredictions have more than 
come true. We are in receipt of letters 
not only from numerous men throughout 
the various European countries, but also 
from other quarters of the world, making 
int|uiries relative to the work which is be- 
ing done here, while hundreds of places 



throughout the United States have taken up 
the ^louth Hygiene work along the same, 
or slightly different, lines in the public 
schools. 

But, best of all, we succeeded in inter- 
esting the National (lovernment to such an 
extent that a special representative was de- 
tailed (at the request of President Taft) to 
investigate the work, and the report of Dr. 
C. W. ^^'illie, Past Assistant Surgeon of the 
United States Public Health and Marine 
Hospital Service, is a most interesting and 
flattering one indeed, and will be forwarded 
to you for consideration as soon as pub- 
lished. 

A copy of Miss O'Neill's most excellent 
paper is published herewith, and your care- 
ful perusal of the same is solicited. 

In the beginning we sought an oppor- 
tunitv to prove to your Honorable Body the 
value, or necessity, for correcting faulty 
oral conditions among the school chil- 
drenof this city. The st.vtements herein 

GIVEN .\RE B.\CKED RV l'NQUESTION.\I?LE 
PROOF, .AND THE RECORDS'FROM WHICH THIS 
n.\T.\ HAS BEEN OBT.MNED WILL BE TL-VCED 
.\T YOUR COMM.\ND FOR INSPECTION, IF SO 
DESIRED. 



11 



As to the conditions under which this 
work was begun. I beg to (juote from Miss 
( )'Neiirs paper. Page 14, ''IvlYect of Medical 
Supervision at Marion School." and again 
as to the kind of pupils and results ob- 
tained, other than from a psychological 
standi)oint, \\ould refer you to Miss 
(J'Xeill's pai)er, Page 17, "Character of the 
Members of the 'Dental Squad' ;" and for 
the effect obtained mentally upon these 
children, would again cite Miss O'Neill's 
pnpcr. Page 17, "Mental Effect of the 'Den- 
tal Squad' Experiment." 

In the concluding paragraph of Miss 
O'Neill's paper, under the head of — "The 
Lesson Taught by Oral Hygiene," she 
makes the statement, "What has been done 
for the 27 children may be done for every 
child." In support of this statement and 
to show the general affect upon the Marion 
School, as a result of having a free dental 
clinic established in that school, to which 
all the pupils in the school had access, we 
l)cg to quote Assistant Superintendent 
Hicks' letter, which is self-explanatory, and 
is found on Page 3 1 . 

In conclusion the writer wishes to say 
tliat in his official capacity as Sec'y-Treas. 
of the National Mouth Hygiene Associa- 
tion, it is a part of his duties to carry on 
experimental work on a larger and broader 
scale than has been done to date, and we 
stand ready to co-operate with you with a 
view to showing what can be accomplished 
as a result of proper dental inspection and 
instruction in connection with the public 
schools. With a view to giving you some 
idea of what the possibilities are, we will 
(|uote from a statement made at the Octo- 
ber meeting of the Cleveland Dental So- 
ciety, when some of the members of your 
I lonorable Body, Superintendent Elson, 
Asst. Supt. Hicks and Director Orr were 
guests of the Society. 

"I am ]:)repared to guarantee an average 
increase of \0y<> in working efficiency of all 
the ])upils in the Cleveland Public Schools 
if they will place in the hands of. my Com- 
mittee one-half of l*}^ of the amount spent 
in educating these children, the same to be 
devoted to the proper kind of dental tn- 
si'KCTTON and dental instruction. This 
will include making a complete inspection 
of all children, and the delivering of 15 
minute talks in every school room in the 



city once every three weeks, or oftener, 
providing the pupils of two or more rooms 
can be assembled for this purpose, or I 
am prepared to guarantee an average in- 
crease in working efficiency of from 15 
to 20% at a cost of 1%. of the present cost 
of education. This will include the estab- 
lishing and manning of four dental clinics 
to take care of emergency work, double in- 
spection (that is, an inspection of all the 
children and the sending into the homes, 
blanks showing the needs of the children, 
and a second inspection to ascertain whether 
these faulty conditions have been cor- 
rected) ; and a more extensive course of in- 
structions in the care and use of the mouth ; 
including the sending of a dental nurse into 
the home of indifferent cases. Said exper- 
iments, tests and clinics to be conducted 
for a period of one year." 

In addition to the above quotation I am 
prepared to make the following statement^, 
which I had intended to include in the 
above quotation, but it slipped my mind : — 
That with the establishing of the PROPER 
KIND of instruction in Mouth Hygiene. I 
am prepared to guarantee that the amount 
of illness, occurring amongst public school 
children will be decreased by at least 75%. 
The proposition v/hich I have just pre- 
sented, including the quotation, is based 
upon facts and information gained 
from actual work conducted not only in 
the City of Cleveland, but throughout the 
country. / am absolutely positive that the 
result promised upon the financial basis 
stated is indeed a conservative one, and am 
prepared to make good on this proposition. 

From the statements above you will be 
able to appreciate something of the impor- 
tance that healthy oral conditions bear to 
the welfare of the public scliool children. 
The writer feels that we are as conservative 
in (uu^ estimates of what the future will 
l)ring forth, as we were when we first came 
to your body with the statement that we l)e- 
lie'ved we should show 50*/^. increase in 
working efficiency. 

Awaiting your action in this matter, we, 
l)eg to remain, 

W. G. Ebersole, Chairman. 

Oral Hygiene Committee of the National 
Dental Association, and Sec'y-Treas. of the 
National Mouth Hygiene Association. 



12 



OHIO STATE DENTAL SOCIETY'S REPORT. 



Cleveland, 0., Dec. 1.^', li)ll. 

To f/ie Iliino'nble Moiihers 

of the Board of liilucition : 

Having had some part, a.s Chainnan of 
the Education and Oral Hygiene Committee 
of the Ohio State Dental Society, in the 
Oral Hygiene movement in tiii.s City during 



the recent past, I beg v. say that I heartily 
endorse Dr. I<^bersole's report to your 
Honorable I'ody, and believe he will make 
good every promise contained therein if 
(lod, in His providence, restores him to 
health and you give him the o])portunity. 
Respectfully submitted, 

W. T. y.\CKMAN. 



ORAL HYGIENE AS IT APPEALS TO EDUCATORS 

By 

MISS CORDELIA L. O'NEILL. Cleveland, O. 
Principal of Marion School. 

(I^cad nt Ihc I'ulilu- Or;il llvyiene Medina,' of tlie National Dental Association, July 2<), 1911, at Cleveland, O.) 



We arc today in the maelstrom of a 
movement for conservation; waste and loss 
are measured from every standpoint ; the 
gospel of efficiency is being preached in 
every line of business. The scientific man- 
agement even of the shoveling of ore, the 
laying of brick, or the manufacture of ma- 
chinery is studied until the efficiency of the 
workman is raised to the highest degree, 
and loss of time or labor reduced to a min- 
imum. 

THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE MODERN 

CITY SCHOOL CHILD, AND ITS 

EFFECTS. 

If we allow ourselves for a moment to 
think of the rapid changes that are being 
made in our mode of living, our methods 
of travel, and our conduct of life, we shall 
be impressed with the necessity for utiliz- 
ing our forces to the greatest advantage. 

This necessity is very marked in the 
field of Education. In the year 18v30 but 
five per cent, of our ])opulation in the 
United States lived in the cities ; today very 
close to 70 per cent, are so domiciled. 
Think of what that means to education ! 
With 95 per cent, of the children out in 
the open fields, l)reathing the ]nire air of 
the country, nourished with food that had 
not undergone adulteration, and trained in 
the varied pursuits and crafts of the farmer 
boy and girl of that day, it is not surpris- 
ing that little thought was given by the 
educator to the physical welfare of his 
pupil. 

Now contrast that life with that of 70 per 
cent, of the children of the United States 



today, 50 per cent, of whom mav be said to 
live under typical urban conditions — close 
housing (|uarters. tainted and smoky city 
air, limited advantages as to nourishment 
and recreation, with fewer duties and ob- 
ligations such as exercise the muscles and 
quicken the intellect. 

When little Sam returns from school to- 
day, he need not bring the kindling-wood 
and coal. His mother turns on the gas to 
prepare the evening meal. He does not 
take a long walk down the lane and out 
through the open pastures for the cows. 
The bottled or condensed milk is ])urchased 
at the corner grocery and delivered in sealed 
])ackages to the house. So may our con- 
trast continue, until we find the children 
limited to the activities of the streets — sell- 
ing papers, doing errands, or. if not di- 
rected in lines of thrift, "running with the 
gang." This picture, modified to meet the 
boy in the high-priced apartment house — 
if he is fortunate enough to be admitted 
there — has given the educator of today a 
problem. 

The gymnasium and ])layground were 
called upon as a substitute for the more 
natural vigorous activities in the eflfort to 
prtiduce the healthy body of the future good 
citizen ; but this has not proved sufficient to 
build and maintain vigorous manhood and 
iwomanhood ; and so the dental and medical 
professions have come forward. 

When a child was close to nature, nature 
took care to correct the imperfections made 
l)y unintelligent civilization. But when out- 
raged nature is overtaxed by the rush and 



13 



hurry of a city existence, she refuses to 
cope with the situation, and we are rearing 
a race of weaklings fen- future citizenship. 
The great need of conserving the child 
for the nation appeals strongly to us. We 
cannot send him back to the country to 
live ; we must deal with the condition as it 
exists — hence modes of training to aid his 
jierfect development take the ])lace of his 
former simple life. 

THE INCRE.XSE OF EFFICIENCY OF 
SCHOOL CHILDREN I3Y SCIEN- 
TIFIC MANAGEMENT. 

The purpose of this paj^er is to give 
evidence of what may be done to increase 
the efficiency of the child if a scientific man- 
agement be established. 

An experiment along these lines has been 
made at Marion school. Marion school is 
situated in the congested section of the city, 
and its pupils come from eighteen city 
blocks, which territory also supplies pupils 
to three parochial schools. The conditions 
might furnish results that may be found in 
similar c|uarters in any city. It has also 
furnished a proof of what may l)e done in 
such a community by fostering the higher 
ideals of living. 

DENTAL EXAMINATION OF THE 
MARION SCHOOL CHILDREN. 

In June. 1909, there appeared at our 
schriol one Monday morning ten dentists and 
ten nurses or attendants, sent, by previous 
arrangement with the Board of Education, 
to ol)tain an idea of the condition of the 
children's mouths. 

Inspection was made of 846 children, and 
a dental chart was marked for each child. 
Out of the 846 examined just three chil- 
dren were found whose teeth were in per- 
fect condition, one a colored boy eleven 
years old, another a Slavish girl of ten 
years who had been in America about six 
months, and one, an American-born child, 
age twelve, who was of Russian parentage. 
One little lad was found to have three 
abscesses, two well developed and the third 
forming. (Could it be surprising if he 
annoyed his classmates or refused to con- 
form to the simplest regulations of the 
school?) 

Such a condition was naturally startling, 
and we were very much gratified to have 
the Board of Education authorize a more 
specific examination the next year. 



Dr. L. A. Krejci conducted this exam- 
ination at our school. Two classes of about 
forty children each were examined in a half 
day. Duplicate charts were made, one being 
kept by the dentist and one sent to the par- 
ents of the child. When the examination of 
the schools were completed. Dr. Ebersole 
requested that a special class be formed for 
observation and study. The purpose was 
to ascertain what efi^ect, if any, would be 
produced on the child, physically, mentally, 
and morally by attention to the proper use 
and care of the oral cavity. 

EFFECTS OF MEDICAL SUPERVISION AT 
MARION SCHOOL. 

For four years preceding the beginning 
of the dental work, we had at Marion 
School the volunteer services of a skilful 
and exceptionally well-equipped physician, 
who conducted the medical inspection of 
our children. His almost daily attention, 
aided somewhat by special emphasis on phy- 
sical culture and daily rhythmic drill, had 
completely transformed the children in our 
school district. Though living under the 
same social, economic, and industrial con- 
ditions as pupils in adjacent school dis- 
tricts, the children at Marion School invari- 
ably impressed visitors, officials or other- 
wise, as being children of a more fortunate 
type physically, morally and mentally. 
Knowing, therefore, what medical inspec- 
tion had done for us, I took precautions be- 
fore beginning the dental experiment to so 
safeguard our medical record that no credit 
would go to the Oral Hygiene work that 
rightfully belonged to general medical ef- 
forts. I was willing to grasp and aid any 
additional movement for the betterment of 
the growing child, but each resource must 
stand on its own merits. A\'hile I was by 
no means antagonistic to the movement for 
Oral Hygiene, I was very jealous of the 
records that we had previously made in 
improving our children. 

METHOD OF CONDUCTING THE ORAL 

HYGIENE TESTS AT MARION 

SCHOOL. 

In order, therefore, that the Oral Hygiene 
Committee could not take credit for work 
done by others, I took the pains to secure 
written statements of conditions from re- 
liable people who had seen the work. I 
have not needed to use them, and in fact 
have become more convinced that those 
who are trying to convince me. 



14 



If this was to be a scientific experiment, 
it must be conducted with the utmost ac- 
curacy possible. All of you who have 
dealt with children know that they can 
be made to perform phenomenal feats if 
skilfully handled. It was our firm deter- 
mination to keep in every way possible tlic 
efforts and environment of these children 
absolutely normal, and have as little atten- 
tion as possible directed to the children and 
to their work, and no undue pressure 
brought to bear. 

Our sessions were held after school, 
when all other children had been dismissed 
for home. Only what was absolutely neces- 
sary was ever said in the building concern- 



sistance of Dr. Krejci, the examining den- 
tist, the charts for all the children, from 
the fourth to the seventh grade inclusive, 
were looked over. We did not consider 
any eighth-grade children, because they 
were soon to leave us for high -school, nor 
any below the fourth grade, as their limited 
abilities would make the results of the ])sy- 
chological tests practically valueless to us. 
Out of the entire number of charts in 
the grades mentioned, forty, (a little 
more than lOV^ ) were selected as show- 
ing the greatest number of defects. In 
the investigations made by the U. S. Com- 
mission of Labor, 10 per cent, was consid- 
ered a basis upon which conclusions might 




M 



arion School "Experimental Class" before psychological tests were 
made or treatment undertaken ; including Ur. Wallin, Psychological 
Director, and Mrs. Van Gastle, dental governess. 



ing the work and the children. So little 
attention did they attract for the first six 
months that many of the teachers in the 
building did not know who of their own 
])upils were in the class. Of course the 
distribution of the live-dollar gold ])ieces at 
Christmas time, of which I will speak later, 
made any further quietude an impossibility. 
Fortunately by that time our work was 
practically ended, and publicity could do 
no harm. Then, again, we conducted the 
psychological tests with as great a degree 
of uniformity and accuracy as was possible. 
In fact we can publicly vouch that nothing 
was in any way done that would influence 
a favorable result. \\'hat we have attained 
have been as nearly normal results as it is 
possible for human effort to attain, and are 
due, I believe, wholly to Oral Hygiene. 

With a mental attitude as described we 
organized our dental squad. With the as- 



be reached. We made no other condition 
in the selection. It developed that among 
the forty whose charts showed the worst 
conditions were some of our best ])upils and 
some of the opposite element ; in fact it 
typically represented the school. This wc 
deemed a most happy choice. 

Conditions for the Marion School Dental 
Sqnad — The forty children were assembled 
after school on ^'Iay 18, 1910, Dr. Ebersole 
explained what was reciuired of them: (1 ) 
They were to have their teeth put into ])er- 
fect condition at no expense to themselves. 
(2) They were to brush their teeth care- 
fully three tiiues a day. (3) They were to 
masticate their food properly, not using 
licjuid with solid food. (4) They were to 
attend any and every meeting of the class 
called, and take from time to time psy- 
chological tests, and were to conform to 
regulations laid down by Mrs. \'an (jastle, 



15 



who was to act in the capacity of super- 
vising nurse. As a reward for this co-op- 
eration each child who faithfully lived up 
to the rec|uireni( nts was to receive a five- 
dollar gold piece on the Friday preceding 
Christmas. To make the reward more 
tangible nnd real. Dr. Ebersole gave the 
gold pi'.ces to me in the presence of the 
children, and I held them in trust for them. 
It was necessary that something attractive 
1 e offered to have their faithful co-opera- 
lion. It could hardly be expected that the 
juvenile mind would appreciate the value 
of experimental proofs of dental prophy- 
laxis, and from a purely altruistic motive 
conform to a series of new and taxing 



W'allin, the psychological expert. The tests 
were planned to ascertain standards in 
memory, accuracy of perception, rapidity 
and accuracy of thought, and spontaneity 
of association and differentiation. 

Six tests were given, two before the work- 
was begun on the children's teeth, two 
while the work was being done, and two 
a sufficient length of time after the mouth 
had been put in perfect condition. 

Lessons in Mastication and insalivation. 
— Two special tests were given in the in- 
terim merely to illustrate to some inter- 
ested parties what was being done. In 
June 1910, about four weeks after the 
beginning of the work, a practical lesson 




Part of Experimental Class in Action. 



regulations, hence the wisdom of the reward 
in gold. At this time, also, each child was 
given a tooth-brush, a bottle of tooth-pow- 
der, and a plain drinking glass. Dr. Eber- 
'sole thoroughly explained the process of 
l^rushing the teeth, which to some of the 
children was something entirely new. Im- 
mediately five withdrew because they would 
not assume the burden. Of those who re- 
mained, seven were in the seventh grade, 
thirteen in the sixth, nine in the fifth, six 
in the fourth grades. Later, at different 
times, three were dropped from the class 
because of failure to attend the tests, and 
'i\\Q. were dropjicd because they did not 
keep their teeth clean and live up to the 
rules generally, leaving twenty-seven who 
remained faithful to the end. 

Psyiholo(/ical tests. — There were a set of 
six psycholdgical tests prepared by Dr. 



in mastication and insalivation was given 
by Mrs. ^''an (jastle, the nurse. Puft'ed 
wheat and cream were served the children, 
who in partaking of the food, chewed and 
swallowed according to directions. 

At this time the process and necessity of 
properly chewing the food were carefully 
ex])lained, and all questions asked by the 
children were carefully and minutely 
answered. This started them intelligently 
in that phase of the work. 

Lessons in the use of the tooth-brush. — 
In September 1910 the children were as- 
sembled and tested as to their ability to 
brush their teeth. They showed a vast im- 
provement over what they had been able 
to do in the beginning. 

7\^st dinner. — They were then invited to 
a three-course dinner, prepared by the 
school and served in the building. The 



16 



meal consisted of roast beef, potatoes, to- 
mato salad, wafers, grape jelly and dessert. 
After they had finished eating, each child 
was served a glass of water. 

At that meeting one of the boys said 
that he had been in the habit of drinking 
six and eight cups of coffee a day, but since 
beginning to chew as he had been taught, he 
had lost the taste for coffee, and now some- 
times did not drink one cup in two or three 
days. Most of the children took the trouljle 
to explain how much l)etter they liked the 
new way of eating. Many interesting and 
varied accounts were related which showed 
how thoroughly they had taken up and were 
pursuing the prescribed course of action. 



from sick headaciie. Most of them had 
sallow, muddy complexions, and three of 
them were on the ])oini i)f being taken into 
juvenile court for truanc} . ( )ne little boy 
was a candidate for the "bo\s' school" be- 
cause of incorrigibility. He was a nuisance 
school yard. The others were between the 
to the school room and a terror in the 
two extreme^. 

MENTAL EFFECTS OF THE "DENT.XL 

souad" experiment. 

Each case was closely watched and each, 
as the work went on, showed marked im- 
provement. The little girl subject to sick 
headaches not onlv was entirely cured, but 




Class ready to receiye instruction on liow to masticate food. 



Operative dental ivork. — In the meantime 
Drs. Loupe and Moffett were treating the 
teeth of each child. Regular a])pointments 
were made and the teeth of -each child put 
in good condition. Dr. Chas. K. Teter 
])erformed what extractions were needed, 
and Dr. X'arney lUirnes did .some work in 
orthodontia. 

cii.vracter of the members of 
the "dental squad." 

So much for the work done ; now for 
results. As has been mentioned before, se- 
lecting only according io the record on the 
charts gave us children of various types. 
We had some who were well behaved, earn- 
est, and bright children, and we had some 
of the most disobedient, reckless, and trou- 
blesome ones. The class, as it first pre- 
sented itself, notwithstanding all that had 
previously been done for them, was not pre- 
possessing. One of the brightest and nicest 
girls in the class suffered very frequently 



her mother, who followed the directions laid 
down for the little daughter, found relief 
from the same trouble. The complexions 
cleared, a spirit of self-respect was mani- 
fest ; truancy, indifference, and incorrigi- 
bility in these children disapi)eared. 

In their mental tests they have made a 
very considerable gain, 99.8+ per cent., 
which comes very close to doubling their 
ability. 

The children who needed llie im])rove- 
ment most were the ones wht) made the 
greatest gains. This gain of 99.8-|- per cent, 
was shown, as we have said, in the psy- 
chological tests. The tests were given one 
in May and one in June of 1*H0, the next 
one in August, then one in September. The 
last two were given on the 4th and 10th of 
'May, 1911. The longest time spent on one 
phase of the work during a test was less 
than three luinutes, therefore the pedagogi- 
cal principle of repetition could not be ef- 
fective liecause of the lapse of time be- 



17 



lueen each appcrceptir-n. The mental 
picture was wholly effaced before tlie next 
test was given. 

The increase in ability to do the work 
of the psycholoi^ical tests is due to increase 
of power in the child rather than to ac- 
cumulated knowledge. A distinction that 
is of great importance to the educator. Such 
results obtained in the class room dis- 
tinguished the true educator from the drill- 
master. 

The children's gain in health, self re- 
spect, and knowledge of higher and better 
living cannot be marked in "per cent." 
Ikit, who will say that it is not equally if 
not more valuable? And the lesson in per- 
severance and continuity of purpose which 
they have had. while not adding anything to 
the dental experiment, can be placed in the 
column of assets. 

Speaking of perseverance, we would all 
say that the anticipated reward of five dol- 
lars in gold was an incentive to them. But 
the fact is that the five dollars was given 
at the end of seven months' work, and dur- 
ing the remaining seven months, or up to 
the present time, each ,and every child has 
been equally persevering, if not more so, 
and that with no reward in sight except 
what was known to be the real benefit that 
comes to them by faithful attention to Oral 
Hygiene. 

Just before the close of school last May 
I asked the children to write me a letter 
telling me what they thought of this expe- 
rience. The whole theme of their letters 
seemed to be gratitude for what was done 
for them. We should need no stronger 
proof of the efficacy of the work than the 
affidavits of the children themselves. 

One of our school officials, after witness- 
ing one of the tests and hearing some of the 
testimonials, very aptly remarked that in 
this day and age we might revise the ex- 
pression, "Out of the overflowing heart the 
mouth s])eaketh," and say instead, "Out of 
the sanitary mouth the overflowing heart 
s])eaketh." 

D.\TA CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL 
ME.MIUCR.S OF THE .SQUAD. 

We will now give some specific data con- 
cerning the different children : Sol Katzel. 
Frank Silverstein, Jacob Bernstein, Joe 
Todd, Lillian (iottfried and Helen Wright 
did last year in twenty-four weeks the same 



work regularly done in thirty-eight weeks, 
and were graduated for high school in Feb- 
ruary instead of in June. 

Frank Silverstein was quarantined on ac- 
count of scarlet fever in his home. He 
helped nurse the younger children, and 
every one of the six children in the family 
contracted the disease except himself. The 
attending physician attributed his immunity 
to his healthy physical condition. 

Helen \Vright was weak and nervous, 
and subject to frequent headaches. Not 
only has she grown robust, but her head- 
aches have disappeared. 

Sam Katzel in May, 1910. was in the 
sixth grade. In May. 1911, one year later, 
he was graduated from the eighth grade, 
having accomplished two entire grades in 
one year. He had failed through indiffer- 
ence the year before. 

Ben Dimendstein at our district athletic 
meet this year won first place in the light- 
weight dash and first place in standing 
broad jump, securing almost two-thirds of 
all the ])oints won by the school. Last year, 
although competing, he did not bring us one 
point ; he says that his success was due to 
Oral Hygiene. 

Beckie Goldstein has had, I believe, the 
hardest struggle in the class. Her teeth 
\\ere very irregular, the worst case of mal- 
occlusion I have seen. During the winter 
her mother met with an accident and was 
taken to the hospital for an operation, leav- 
ing in Beckie's care a baby two weeks old. 
This baby was the sixteenth in the family, 
and Beckie the oldest daughter. For two 
months Beckie with the help of a younger 
sister and with the advice and help of some 
women in the neighborhood, cared for the 
baby, regulated the household, and came to 
school occasionally one or one-half day 
when she found some neighbor who would 
take the baby for a time. By so doing she 
kept in touch with the work at school, and 
was promoted with her class in June. But 
the most remarkable fact is that during 
that time, though she had not one unbroken 
night's rest on account of her anxiety for 
the baby, she retained her vigor and 
strength through it all. 

Rose Lieberman, Lillie Semlakowski, and 
Lillie Cohen have the prettiest sets of teeth, 
and made a most marked improvement in 
complexion. Their improvement may be 
said to be esthetic. 



18 



Annie Packucli had severe kidney 
trouble, and was a fragile, delicate, nervous 
child. In every respect she has greatly im- 
proved and is sturdy and well today. 

Rachel Somers led her class in the last 
promotions. 

Gussie Hammerschlag, I'.eatrice Kramer, 
Bertha Semlakowsky, Sarah M a c k 1 i n, 
Frieda Goldman, Selma Perlick and Helen 
Cohen have shown improvement in scholar- 
ship, behavior, health and appearance. 

Issie Grey's father says that since Issie 
has entered the dental class he has im- 
proved so that he would not give him now 
for all his other children i)ut together, and 
we have some very nice children from the 
Grey family. 

Hannah Cohen has not had the full quota 
of mental endowments. She has been in 
America about three years, has had many 
difficulties to overcome, and. made a gain 
of 444.82 per cent., besides improving 
greatly physically. 

Ida Goldman has been the most timid 
child in the class. Her fear of the dentist 
was such that at first I remained with her, 
and held her hands while the dentist 
worked. She responded less readily, 
though she made a gain of 101.83 per cent. 

Harry Freeman, and Abe Myer have 
been good, faithful, steady workers and 
have made gains, besides brightening up 
and showing physical growth. 

The last and banner pupil is Morris 
Krause. Morris had ideas peculiarly his 
own as to what a boy's duties and privi- 
leges were. These ideas were so much at 



variance with the conventional standards 
that difficulties arose, seemingly insur- 
mountable at times. Since working with 
the class he has been manly, tractable, and 
does not even seem to have the temptations 
that repeatedly assailed him and were al- 
most the means of his downfall. The re- 
sult obtained for Morris alone was worth 
all our effort. 

THE LESSON TAUGHT BY 
ORAL HYGIENE. 

I am thoroughly convinced of the effi- 
ciency of (Jral Hygiene. 1 believe that if 
each child be taught to intelligently keep 
thoroughly clean and healthy the gateway 
to his system, the mouth, we will have a 
healthier, more self-respecting, and all- 
around better class of citizens for the next 
generation. What has been done for these 
twenty-seven children may be done for 
every child. If we are called upon to edu- 
cate children living in crowded city quar- 
ters, breathing varieties of harmful gases 
instead of pure air, eating food adulterated 
or sold from shops that display their goods 
uncovered and exposed to the germs that 
are scattered by that portion of our si.x 
hundred thousand population that may 
chance to pass that way ; if, as a distin- 
guished physician in X'ienna says, the ma- 
jority of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis 
are contracted through the alimentary 
canal — then we must fortify our children 
by every means in our power ; and one of 
the most effective guns on our fortification 
is a practical working knowledge and train- 
insT in Oral Hvgiene. 



19 



INDIVIDUAL RECORDS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE MARION SCHOOL 
DENTAL EXPERIMENTAL CLASS. 




Before 1 After 

Jacob Bernstein. Age, 14 years. Seventh 

Grade. Family of seven, five cliildren. Father 

a junk dealer. 

Was found in a very unhealthful home, having 
pratically no ventilation. He had a very sallow 
complexion and was very sluggish ; and, was 
suffering with extreme cases of indigestion and 
constipation. Was at times a very unruly and 
indifferent pupil. 

His mouth was in a deplorahle condition, gums 
were soft, spongy, and hadly diseased around a 
numher of the teeth. Teeth were hadly coated 
with green stain and tartar, while six of the 
permanent molars were very badly decayed. Was 
unaljle to masticate properly and was therefore 
bolting his food, washing it down with from six 
to eight cups of coffee daily. A prophylaxis 
■treatment was' given and thirteen amalgam and 
one cement fillings were inserted in his teeth to 
correct the faulty condition. Since receiving- 
treatment he has a beautiful set of teeth, gums 
healthy and firm. Indigestion and constipation 
entirely cured. Since masticating his food prop- 
erly he has lost the desire for coffee. His com- 
plexion is now clear and ruddy, and he is abound- 
ing with life and vitality. The Principal of the 
school says' that this boy is now his teacher's 
right bower, his conduct being perfect. 

Psychological tests show an increase in work- 
ing efficiency for the year of 34.43% ; while in 
the school work this boy was one of six who last 
year did in twenty-four weeks the work regu- 
larly done in thirty-eight weeks, and was gradu- 
ated for High School in February instead of 
June. 

School record. 

Before: Scliolarship. poor; Effort, Attendance 
and Conduct, fair. 

After: Scholarsliip, Effort. Attendance and 
Conduct, good. 

Psycliological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 51.65 54.85 3,2 6.21% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 57.75 64.35 6.6 11.41% 

Addition 19 33 14 73.68% 

Association by op- 

posites 54 73 19 35.18% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of i)er- 
ception 40.5 59 18.5 45.67%. 

— or total gain of 34.43''/. 




liefore :l After 

Lillian Cohen. Age, 14 years. Sixth Grade. 
Seven in family, live children. Father a ped- 
dler. 

Mouth was'' in an unhealthful condition. She 
was not properly nourished, the result of im- 
proper food which she was bolting. Was . suf- 
fering with nervous indigestion, eyes were in- 
flamed, was anemic, vitality low, and had a very 
Ijad complexion. She was one year behind her 
grade and her conduct was poor. Eight teeth 
were decayed and required six amalgam and two 
cement fillings. She now shows improvement 
in every way. Indigestion is cured, and she is 
brighter and full of life, with a good clear com- 
plexion; and is following instructions of her 
own free will, because of the improvement she 
herself is now aware. She is one of the three 
girls that have the prettiest sets of teeth in the 
class, and showed the most marked improvement 
in complexion. The inflammation of the eyes has 
entirely disappeared; and the improvement may 
be said to be aesthetic. The Principal of the 
school reports a great improvement in her school 
work ; and the psychological tests show a mental 
improvement of 61.84%'. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship and Eifort. fair; Attend- 
ance and Conduct, poor. 

After: Scholarship, Effort and Conduct, good; 
Attendance, fair. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 29.9 46.5 16.6 55.51% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 31.35 79.2 47.85 152.63% 

Addition 2,7 49 12 32.43% 

Association bv op- 
posites ...;.... 43 59 16 37.21 ^^ 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 39.75 52.25 12.5 31.44%, 

— nr a total gain of 61.849^. 



20 




Before :! After 

Hklen Comen. Age, 12 years. Fifth Grade. 

Five in family, three children. Father a tailor. 

This girl was suffering from mal-nutrition. 
sick headaches, was pale and sickly looking ; 
and her physical condition was such that it gave 
her a dull, stolid appearance, and her complexion 
was sallow. She was two years beliind grade in 
her school work. Her mouth was in very had 
condition. She had two central incisors so liadly 
decayed that the pulps had died. Pulp also dead 
in a bicuspid, and pulps exposed in two molars 
which made it necessary to devitalize, filling the 
roots in these five teeth. After her teeth were 
properly treated and filled, she showed much im- 
provement. She is' better nourished, and is 
brighter and more alert l;oth physically and 
mentally. Her complexion is much better, in 
fact, there has been improvement in scholarship, 
behavior, health and appearance. Psychological 
tests show an increase in working efficiencv of 
53.368% for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship, Effort, Attendance and 
Conduct, good. 

After : Scholarship, Effort. Attendance and 
Coudjtct, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 53.25 46.55 6.7 —12.589^ 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 46.2 64.35 18.15 39.2S7r 

Addition 28 35 7 25 % 

Association bv op- 
sites ' 21 54 33 157.14% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 42.25 66.75 24.5 589; 

— or a total of gain of 53.368*^'^ . 




P.efore 



H ANN. MI 

Family 
Family 
Imisher 



Cohen. . 
of six. 
supported 
of coats. 



.\fler 

\ge, 13 years. ]"'ourth Grade, 
live - children. Father dead, 
by eldest daughter, who is a 



This child made the poorest showing in the 
first psychological test- and in her school record 
she was three years behind grade, and doing very 
poor work in that grade. The family has been 
in this country only four years. They are clean 
but poor. Hannah was dull and very slow to 
grasp ideas. Her mouth was in a dreadful 
condition, and it seemed as thougli every tooth 
in her mouth was decayed and coated with green 
stain. She was sufTering with severe constipa- 
tion, was stolid, with no animation at all. In 
fact, in this case there existed a decided mental 
deficiency. The dentists worked for her most 
of the winter, 16 teeth were filled, requiring 10 
amalgam and 15 cement fillings. Her teeth are 
now in a sound condition. She keeps them 
l)eauti fully clean. Is now healthy, Iirighter men- 
tally, constipation entirely cured, complexion 
clearer and her skin a good color. There has 
been a steady improvement and decided gain 
in flesh. In fact, there has been a complete 
change, both physically and mentally. She has 
had many difiiculties to overcome, but made a 
gain of 444.879^ in mental improvement in a(ldi- 
tion to the great physical change. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship and Attendance, poor; 
Effort, good; Conduct, fair. 

After: Scholarship, fair; Effort, Attendance 
and Conduct, good. 

Ps\cholo}j,iciil record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

M:emory 34.9 31.6 3.3 —9.45% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 8.25 19.3 11.05 133.84%- 

Addition 12 27 15 125 % 

.'\ssociation bv op- 
sites " 3 23 20 666.67%r 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 3 42.25 39.25 1308.33'^ 

— nr a t(jtal gain of 444.878%. 




Bel. 



.\fur 



.•\gc, II years. Sixth Grade, 
six children. I'ather a rag 



r. K.V DiMENDSTRIN. 

Family of eight, 
peddler. 

This boy came to Marion School a year be- 
fore the experimental work began. Was very 
small for his age. thin. pale, and poorly nourished. 
He stood the highest in the first psychological 
tests. This lioy had a number of teeth needing 
treatment and some extraction was necessary. 
Three temporary teeth tequired attention, and 
these were filled with three cement and two 
gutta percha fillings. Three temporary molars 
were removed. The permanent teeth were very 



21 



slow in erupting. The faulty oral condition in 
this hoy's mouth was due principally to neglect 
of the temporary teeth. Since his dental work 
has heen completed he >hows general improve- 
ment and has grown rugged. In fact, he seems 
to have taken a fresh start in life, growing 
rapidly, gaining in llesh and is improved in color. 
His pliysical condition shows very marked im- 
provement. The Principal of the school makes 
the following statement: "Ben Dimendstein 
at our district athletic meet this year won first 
place in th© light weight dash and first place in 
standing hroad jump, securing almost two- 
thirds of all the points won by the school. Last 
year although competing, he did not bring us 
one point. He says his success was due to Oral 
Hygiene." Psychological tests show a gain of 
32.162% in mental efficiency. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship, good; Effort, fair; At- 
tendance and Conduct, poor. 

After: Scholarship and Attendance, good; Ef- 
fort and Conduct, excellent. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. GorL. 

Memory 66.65 66.6 .05 —.07% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 74.25 90.75 16.5 22.22% 

Addition 46 63 17 36.95% 

Association by op- 
posites 59 92 33 55.937' 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 41.5 60.5 19 45.78% 

— or a total gain of 32.1625^. 




i.efore 



' After 



Harry Freeman. Age, 12 years. Sixth Grade. 
Family of nine, seven children. I-'ather a 
tailor. 

This boy represents another large family, liv- 
ing under congested conditions. His mouth had 
had no attention at all and was in a bad condi- 
tion. Teeth were decayed and covered with 
green stain. He was suffering with constipa- 
tion and was very sluggish ; complexion sallow ; 
was very unreliable and impressed one as being 
deceitful and dogged. He only obeyed because 
he thought he was forced to and would fail as 
often as he could. He had seven teeth showing 
decay, and there were eight amalgam and one ce- 
ment fillings inserted. His teeth are now in good 
condition. The nurse was at first discouraged, 
thinking it would not be possible to jiersuade him 



to obey our instructions ; but, as his work 
neared completion a change took place. He not 
only was cured of constipation, and his com- 
plexion cleared, but he brightened mentally, is 
animated, responsive, pleasant and reliable. The 
Principal of the school states that he has been a 
good, faithful, steady worker, and has made de- 
cided gain, besides brightening up and showing 
physical growth. Psychological tests • show an 
increase of 60.526% in working efficiency for the 
year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship, Effort. Attendance and 
Conduct, fair. 

After: Scholarship, Attendance and Conduct, 
good ; Effort, fair. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. GorL. 

Memory 36.55 59.95 23.4 64.02% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 70.95 84.15 13.2 18.6% 

Addition 35 55 20 57.147^ 

Association bv op- 
posites . . . .' 50 S3 33 66 % 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 24 47.25 23.25 96.87% 

—or a total gain of 60.526%. 




Before 



After 



Frieda Goldman. Age, 13 years. Sixth Grade. 
Family of ten, eight children. F'ather a 
tailor. 

This child is one of a large family found hud- 
dled in a small frame house with dark rooms. 
She was pale and delicate, with low vitality and 
was poorly nourished. One year behind grade 
in her school work. Her mouth was in very 
])ad condition, gums diseased, teeth decayed and 
stained ; and was suffering from toothache al- 
most constantly. Had one abscessed molar, and 
one bicuspid with an exposed pulp, which had to 
he devitalized. Her teeth were put in good con- 
dition, requiring eight amalgam and one cement 
fillings. She has shown improvement in scholar- 
ship, behavior, health and appearance. Psycho- 
logical tests show an increase of 38.97% in 
working efficiency for the year. 

School record. 

Before : Scholarship, Effort and Conduct, 
fair; Attendance, poor. 

After: Scholarship, fair; Effort, /Ittcndancc 
and Conduct, good. 



22 



- FsyclTolo};iciil record. 

Before After Dif. (icrl.. 

Memory 44.95 39.95 5 —1 l.lZVr 

Spontaneoit.s as- 
sociation 55.75 64.35 S.r) 15.42% 

.\ddition 34 ^7 3 8.829^ 

.Association 1)\' op- 
posites '..... 35 70 35 KK) % 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 26 47.25 21.25 81.73% 

—or a total gain of 38.97%. 








Before S After 

I r).\ GoLDM.VN. -Xge, 10 years. I'^ourth Grade. 

I""amily of ten, eight children. Father a tailor. 

This girl (a sister of the one mentioned above) 
was a delicate, nervous child, and iioorl}- nour- 
ished. Was a year behind grade in her school 
work. Her mouth was in such had condition 
that it demanded attention at once. Her fear 
of the dentist was such that at first the Principal 
of the school had to remain with her and hold 
her hands while the dentist worked. She had 
an exposed pulp in a lower molar, whidi was 
devitalized and the roots filled. Si.x other teeth 
were filled requiring four amalgam and three 
cement fillings ; and sensitive molars were treated 
with nitrate of silver. She responded less read- 
ily, although she made a gain of 101.83% in the 
psychological tests, and had improved physically. 
School record. 

Before: Scholarship, Effort and Coinluct, fair; 
. Iticndance, good. 

•After: Scholarship, fair; lifforl. Allciidancc 
and 'Conduct, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before .After Dif. Gorl.. 

Memory 40 34,9 5.1 —12.75% 

Spontaneous as- 

.sociation 42.35 61.05 18.7 44.15^ 

Addition 23 25 2 8.69% 

.Association bv op- 
sites ' 10 49 39 390 % 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 28 50.25 22.2^ 79.1 ' . 

—or a total gain of 101.838%. 




Before '■) After 

Bia KiK Goldstein. Age, 13 years. Sixth Grade 
i-'amily of eleven, nine children. h'ather a 
tailor, out of work part of the time. Family 
\ery poor. 

This girl was a thin. i)alc child, with com- 
plexion sallow and pasty, and some erui)tion. 
Was suffering from mal-nutrition and constipa- 
tion. She had a forlorn, neglected appearance, 
manifesting very little interest in life. One year 
behind grade in her school work. She had a 
very bad case of mal-occlusion, and her teeth 
were decayed and coated with green stain. She 
had nine teeth affected with decay, requiring 
nine amalgam, four cement and three gutta 
percha fdlings. Since her teeth have lieen treat- 
ed and cared for they are beautifully clean and 
white, with gums firm. Her face is clear from 
eruption, constipation cured, and she is strong. 
bright, alert and capable. The Principal of the 
school makes the following statement: "During 
the winter her mother met with an accident and 
was taken to the hospital for an operation, leav- 
ing in Beckie's care a baby two weeks old. This 
was the sixteenth baby in the family and Beckie 
the eldest daughter. For two months Beckie 
with the help of a younger sister, and advice and 
help of some women in the neighborhood, cared 
for the baby, regulated the household and came 
to school occasionally a day or one-half day 
when she found some neighbor who would take 
the baby for a time. By so doing she kept in 
touch with the work at school and was promoted 
with hen class in June. But the most remarkable 
point is that during that time, though she had 
not one unbroken night's rest on account of her 
anxiety for the baby, she retained her vigor and 
strength through it all." This case was in the 
hands of the Orthodontist throughout the entire 
time of our experiments for the purpose of cor- 
recting mal-occlusion of the teeth. This too 
acted as a very serious handicap and prevented 
the progress that would otherwise have been 
made. In fact, at the time the pictures of the 
other children were taken after the completion 
of the work, this little lady was still wearing the 
retaining aiipliaiice and continued to do so for 
some time. ller picture was taken about six 
months later, and the physical gain that she 
shows is. to say the least, most remarkable. 
Psychological tests show an increase in working 
efficiency of 27.02% for the year. 

School record. 

Before: .Scholarship. Effort. Aiicudauce and 
Conduct, fair. 

.After: Scholarship. Effort and Conduct, good; 
Attendance, fair. 



23 



['sycliolofiical rcf^ii. 

Ik^fore \ftcr !)if. (iorL. 

Memory 55 46.65 S.35— 15.18'// 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 42.9 24.75 18.15— 42.3 7^ 

Addition 40 53 13 32.5 7< 

As.sociation bj^ 'ip- 
posites 24 54 30 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ceptiun 42.75 57.75 15 

— or a total gain of 27.02'y. 



125 



35.087c 




Before Ki After 

LiLLi.sN GoTTKRiEP. Age, 14 years. Seventh 
Grade. I""amily of ten. eight children. Father 
agent for lace and household furnishings. 

This' girl was naturally stronger than some of 
the other children, hut had some trouble with 
constipation. Her mouth was in very bad con- 
dition, teeth l)adly decayed and coated with green 
stain. She had exposed pulps in a bicuspid and 
a molar. They were devitalized and the roots 
tilled. Thirteen other teeth needed filling, and 
eleven amalgam and fifteen cement fillings were 
required. Her complexion is clearer, consti- 
pation cured, and she is improved mentally. Her 
teeth are now in good condition. In her school 
work this last year, she did the same work in 
twenty-four weeks that is regularly done in 
thirty-eiaht weeks', and was graduated for High 
School in February instead of June. Psycholog- 
ical tests show 36.546% increase in working effi- 
ciency for the year. 

School record. 

1'eforc: Schalarslup and CoiuUict, good; Ef- 
fort, fair; .lltcndancc. poor. 

.After: Scholarship and Conduct, good; Effort, 
excellent; . Ittciidcincc, fair. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 48.3 54.95 6.65 13.76% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 47.85 64.35 16.5 34.48%. 

Addition 37 46 9 24.32% 

Association bv op- 
posites ' 51 77 26 50.98% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 43.5 69.25 25.75 59.19'% 

— or a total gain of 36.546%. 




Before 1 1 After 

IssiE Grev. Age, 13 years. Sixth Grade. Fam- 
ily of eight, six children. Father a peddler for 
a beer concern. 

This child was small and pale, poorly nour- 
ished and anemic. His mouth was in fair condi- 
tion, although dental work was necessary. He 
had six decayed teeth, requiring five amalgam, two 
cement and one gutta percha fillings. Since re- 
ceiving treatment, he has improved greatly. His 
mouth is now in fine condition. He is stronger 
physically, brighter mentally, and more alert. His 
father states that since the dental work for Issie 
has been done, he would give more for him than 
all his other children put together. Psychological 
tests show an increase of 32.652% in working effi- 
ciency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship, Effort and Conduct, good; 
Attendance, poor. 

After: Scholarship, Effort, Attendance and 
Conduct, good. 

Psychological record. 

■ Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 48.3 54.85 6.55 13.56% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 72.6 74.25 1.65 2.27% 

Addition 51 69 18 35.29% 

Association bv op- 
posites . . . ." 38 57 19 50 % 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 35 56.75 21.75 62.14%. 

— or a total gain of 32.652%'. 




Before 



Aftc 



Fifth 
Father 



Gi'SSiE IIammersc'iii.ak. Age 12 years. 
Grade. Family of nine, seven children, 
a foreman in a clothing establishment. 

A wild, coarse, gross, irritable and nervous girl. 
Eyes a little inflamed. Suffering with attacks of 
indigestion. Was' two years behind grade in her 
school work. Her mouth was in such bad condi- 



24 



tion that it was rc'inilsivc. Gums wort- in bail 
condition, and teeth so hadly decayed that her 
work required a long time Ijefore it could he com- 
pleted. She had one exposed pulp in an upper 
lateral ; removed under cocaine pressure and 
anesthesia and root Tdled. Eleven other teeth 
filled, requiring fourteen amalgam, six cement and 
two gutta percha fillings. Her mouth is now clean 
and in healthy condition. Eyes and skin clearer. 
She is now quiet and ladylike. In fact, slie has' 
improved greatly in scholarship, behavior, health 
and appearance. Psychological tests show an in- 
crease in working efficiency of 70.166''/ for the 
year. 

School record. 

Before: Scliolarship. fair; Effort and Aitcnd- 
aiice, good ; Conduct, very variable. 

After: Scholarship, Effort, Attendance and 
Conduct, good. 

Psychol oi^ical record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 36.6 56.65 20.05 54.77% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 42.9 80.85 37.95 88.45% 

Addition 48 51 3 8.25% 

Association bv op- 
posites ...." 24 61 37 154.17% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacv of per- 
ception 33.8 49.75 15.95 47.197r 

— or a total gain of 70.166'<^ 




Before 



1,3 



After 



Samuel Katzel. Age, 15 years. Sixth Grade. 
Family of eleven, eight children. P'ather has a 
small grocery. 

He was apparently a hcaltliy l)oy. Was' two 
years behind grade in his school work, having 
failed through indifference. His mouth was in bad 
condition, had two bicuspids with exposed pulps 
which were devitalized and roots filled. Twelve 
other teeth required attention and the insertion 
of nine amalgam, fifteen cement and one gutta 
percha fillings. These teeth were very sensitive 
and needed many analgesic treatments. He has 
improved in every way, shows greater efficiency, 
is teeming with life and interest, and is faithful 
in his work. In 'May, 1910, he was in the sixth 
grade. In May, 1911. one year later, he was 
graduated from the eighth grade, making two 
entire grades in one year. Psychological tests 
show an increase of 26.1027f in working efficiency 
for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship and Effort, fair: .Itlend- 
ancc and Conduct, poor. 



After: Scholar.sliip. Attendance and Conduct, 
good; Effort, excelleni. 

EsychologUiil record. 

Before After Dif. GorL 

Memory 44.9 51.0 6.7 14.927r 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 46.2 47.75 1.55 3.35% 

Addition 76 93 17 22.37% 

Association bv op- 
posites . . . .' 48 67 19 .39.58%. 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 42.25 63.5 21.25 50.29'/ 

—or a total gain of 26.1027r,. 




llcforc 14 After 

Soi, Katzel. Age, 14 years. Seventh Grade, 
h'aniily of eleven, eight children, h'ather has a 
small grocery. 

.\ pale, irritable boy, living a street life, unre- 
liable, pugnacious. His teeth and gums were in 
liad condition. He had two molars with exposed 
pulps, only one could be saved by devitalizing 
and filling the roots. Sensitive molars were treat- 
ed with nitrate of silver. Thirteen teeth were 
filled, recpiiring four amalgam, eleven cement and 
five gutta percha fillings. This boy took longer to 
bring into training than any other child. His 
mouth is now in good condition, and he is faith- 
ful in its care. He shows improvement, physic- 
ally and mentally; and last year did in twenty- 
four weeks the same work regularly done in 
thirty-eight weeks, and was graduated for High 
School in b'ebruary instead of June. Psycholog- 
ical tests show an increase of 51.408"^^ in working 
efficicncN' for the year. 

School record. 

Hefore: Scholarship and Attendance, good: /"./- 
fort, fair: Conduct, erratic. 

.\fter: Scholarship, Effort. .Attendance and 
Conduct, good. 

Psycholo^iical record. 

Before After Dif Gorl.. 

Memory 44.85 49.9 5.05 1 1.26% 

Sjiontaneous as- 
sociation 41.25 79.2 37.95 92 % 

Addition 62 91 29 46.77%. 

.Association bv op- 

posites ....' 53 71 18 33.96% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacv of per- 
ception 35.25 61 25.75 73.05% 

—or a total gain of 51.408%. 



25 




Before l."> After 

I'.i'.ATuici: Kramer. Age, 12 j-ears. Fifth Grade. 

I-'amily of thirteen, eleven children. I-'ather an 

iron dealer. 

This cliild's home was not so poor, hnt she was 
\ery much neglected. She was trouhled with in- 
digestion and constipation ; her complexion was 
salhnv and muddy. She was two years behind 
grade in her school work. Her teeth were very 
badly decayed. Had exposed pulps in a molar 
and bicuspid ; both were devitalized and roots 
tilled. Resides this, seventeen teeth were filled, 
requiring fourteen amalgam, fourteen cement and 
three gutta percha fillings. This child had hy- 
pertrophied gums that were also treated and 
cured. Siie is' now entirely cured of indigestion 
and constipation ; and, there is a marvelous im- 
provement in complexion and vitality. She has 
shown improvement in scholarship, behavior, 
health and appearance. Psychological tests show 
}^'^/< increase in working efficiency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scliolarsliif. Effort. Attendance and 
Conduct, fair. 

After: Scliolarship, Effort. Attendance and 
Conduct, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 36.65 44.95 8.3 22.64% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 39.6 47.85 8.25 20.83% 

Addition 35 55 20 57.14% 

Association bv op- 
posites . . . .' 37 61 24 64.86% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 51.25 61.25 10 19.51% 

— or a total gain of 37'^^r. 




After 



.MoKKis Krause. .'\ge, 10 years, b'iftli (irade. 
Family of seven, i'wc children, b'ather a press- 
er of caps. 



He was a small, itelicate boy. very pale. In his 
school work he was one year behind grade. His 
mouth was not quite as neglected as some of the 
other members of the class. He had an exposed 
])ulp in an upper molar, devitalized and roots 
tilled; liesides seven other teeth, requiring six 
amalgam and eight cement fillings. The purpose 
of I)ringing this boy into the class was to deter- 
mine the effect upon degeneracy. He was the 
worst pupil in the school which contained 846 
pupils, playing truant, rebellious and deceitful. 
He was a nuisance in the school room and a ter- 
ror in the school yard. The Principal of the 
school states that "Morris had ideas peculiarly 
his own as to what a boy's duties and privileges 
were. Those ideas were so much at variance 
with the conventional standards that difficulties 
arose seemingly insurmountable at times. Since 
working with the class he has been manly, tract- 
able, and does not even seem to have the tempta- 
tions that repeatedly assailed him and were al- 
most the means of his downfall." The improve- 
ment is marked in this child. His mouth is in 
splendid condition. He is much stronger physic- 
ally, is now regular in school, quiet, gentlemanly 
and obedient ; and doing good work. Psycholog- 
ical tests show an increase on 156.556% in work- 
ing efficiency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship and Effort, fair; Attend- 
ance and Conduct, very poor. 

After: Scholarship and Attendance, good; Ef- 
fort and Conduct, fair. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 20 43.3 23.3 116.5 %- 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 29.7 52.8 23.1 77.777c 

Addition 30 50 20 66.66% 

Association bv op- 
posites ...." 5 26 21 420 % 

Quickness and ac- 
curacv of per- 
ception 27 54.5 27.5 101.85% 

— or a total gain of 156.556%. 




r 



Aft( 



Before 

Rose Lieberman. Age, 12 years. Fifth Grade. 
Family of eight, five children. Father is agent 
for the Goodman Piano Co. 

This child was suffering with constipation ; and 
her complexion was not clear. One year behind 
grade in her school work. She had two lower 
first molars with exposed pulps. These were de- 
vitalized and roots filled. Three other teeth were 



26 



cared for, requiring five amalgam and one cement 
fillings. She is decidedly improved, constipation 
cured ; and complexion clear and bright. She 
has one of the prettiest sets of teeth in the class. 
She shows increase in vitality and in mentality. 
Psychological tests show an increase of 50.742% 
'in working efficiency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship and Attendance, fair; Ef- 
fort and Conduct, good. 

After: Scholarship, Effort, Attendance and 
Conduct, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 43.3 38.3 5 —11.54% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 51.15 54.45 3.3 6.45% 

Addition 25 27 2 8 % 

Association by op- 
posites 26 66 40 153.84% 

Quickness and ac- 
"curac}' of per- 
ception 24.75 48.75 24 90.90% 

— or a total gain of 50.742%. 




Before 



IS 



After 



Sar.\h M.\cklin. Age, 14 years. Fifth Grade. 
Family of six, five children. Father has de- 
serted family, and they are supported by the 
eldest child, a girl of sixteen, who is a book- 
binder. 

This child lives on the third floor of a very 
poor tenement. Their poverty is extreme. She 
was dull, irresponsive, the result of being poorly 
nourished and debilitated. Had a severe case 
of constipation. Was four years behind grade in 
her school work. Her teeth were in very bad 
condition and her gums diseased. She suffered 
almost constantly with toothache. She had two 
teeth with putrescent pulps, which had to be de- 
vitalized. In all, four of the roots were filled. 
These teeth needed many root treatments. 
Twenty-seven sittings' were required to complete 
the work though only six other teeth were filled, 
requiring eight amalgam and nine cement fillings. 
Her teeth are now in good condition. Constipa- 
tion entirely cured; and her complexion is bet- 
ter. She is pleasant, bright and responsive; and 
improved in every way since her work has been 
completed. Psychological tests show an increase 
of 36.788% in working efficiency for the year. 



School record. 

Before: Scholarship, poor; Effort and Attend- 
ance, good; Conduct, stul)l)orn and irresponsive. 

•After : Scholarship, Effort and Conduct, fair ; 
Attendance, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 44.95 46.55 1.6 3.56% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 28.05 44.55 16.5 5S.82%o 

Addition 32 28 4 —12.5 % 

Association by op- 
posites 35 64 29 82.85%. 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 37 55.95 18.95 51.21%, 

— or a total gain of 36.788%. 




Before 19 After 

.\be Meyer. Age, 12 years. Sixth Grade. Fam- 
ily of six, four children. Father a tailor. 

He had some constipation. His teeth were 
coated and decayed. He had six teeth needing 
attention, and sixteen amalgam fillings were in- 
serted. There were many little pits which were 
caught in time to prevent great havoc. Since his 
dental work was completed he has beautiful 
teeth, and is the picture of health and vigor, con- 
stipation having disappeared. He has been a 
good faithful worker since being in the class and 
has made decided gain, besides brightening up 
and showing physical growth. Psychological 
tests show an increase of 55.642% in working ef- 
ficiency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship and Attendance, fair; Ef- 
fort and Conduct, good. 

.After: Scholarship, fair; Effort and Conduct, 
excellent; Attendauce, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 39.95 36.55 3.4 —8.51% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 56.1 80.85 24.75 44.11% 

Addition 17 29 12 70.59% 

.Association bv op- 
posites ....' 46 84 3S. 82.61%, 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 21.25 40.25 19 89.41 7r 

— or a total gain of 55.642%. 



27 




Before 20 After 

Anna Pankuch. Age, 11 years. Fifth Grade. 

Family of twelve, ten children. Father has a 

small printing office. 

This girl was small, delicate, poorly nourished 
and suffering from kidney trouble and constipa- 
tion. She was very dull. Her teacher found it 
hard to make her understand, and she was one 
year behind grade in her school work. She had 
never used a tooth brush and it was difficult for 
her to learn its use. Her teeth were coated with 
green stain and decayed. She had seven teeth 
Idled, requiring eight amalgam fillings. Molars 
needed analgesic treatments. Since her dental 
work was completed she has greatly improved 
in every respect, constipation and kidney trouble 
cured — she has had no medical attention, only 
the dental — and she is now sturdy and well, 
clearer mentally and gi-asping her school work 
readily. Psychological tests show an increase of 
42.974% in working efficiency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship and Attendance, fair; Ef- 
fort and Conduct, good. 

After: Scholarship, fair; Effort, Attendance 
and Conduct, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 36.6 54.35 17.75 48.49% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 49.5 75.9 26.4 53.33%, 

Addition 30 41 11 36.67%o 

Association by op- 
po.sites 49 74 25 42.85 %o 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 42.5 56.75 14.25 33.53% 

— or a total gain of 42.974%. 




;for( 



21 



Set.ma I^ERTJCK. Age, 13 years. 
J""amily of nine, seven children. 
penter. 



After 

l-'ifth Grade. 
Father a car- 



She was a neglected looking child, careless, un- 
relialde. always making trouble at school. She 
was two years behind grade in her school work. 
Her teeth were decayed and stained. She had ten 
teeth reciuiring fifteen amalgam and two cement 
fillings. Since her dental work has been com- 
pleted, she is greatly improved. Her mouth is in ' 
good condition, and she is faithful in its care. 
She is now bright and reliable, and has shown 
improvement in scholarship, behavior, health and 
appearance. Psychological tests show an increase 
of 43.048"/^ in working efficiency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship, Effort, Attendance and 
Conduct, fair. 

After : Scholarship and Conduct, fair ; Effort 
excellent; Attendance, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 53.3 49.85 3.45 —6.47% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 34.65 47.85 13.2 38.09% 

Addition 37 44 7 18.91% 

Association by op- 
posites 45 81 36 80 % 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 37.25 68.75 31.5 84.72% 

—or a total gain of 43.048%. 



K^^iP^flH 







Before 



After 



Rachel Somers. Age, 14 years. Fifth Grade. 
Family of nine, seven children. Father is cm- 
ployed as a sail maker. 

This child was suffering with constipation and 
auto-intoxication; always looked tired, forlorn 
and neglected. She was four years behind grade 
in her school work. Her mouth was in bad con- 
dition, gums and teeth diseased, teeth coated with 
green stain. She had eight teeth decayed, requir- 
ing eleven amalgam fillings. Her mouth is now 
in good condition, gums healthy and teeth pretty 
and white. Constipation is cured, and she is 
much brighter. Led her class in the last promo- 
tions. Psychological tests show an increase in 
working efficiency for the year of 103.566%. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship, fair; Effort and Conduct, 
good ; Attendance, poor. 

■After: Scholarship and Attendance, fair; Ef- 
fort and Conduct, good. 



28 



Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. Ci or L. 

Memory 36.45 54.9 18.45 50.61% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 27.05 70.95 43.9 162.25% 

Addition 19 39 20 105.26% 

Association by op- 
posites 12 25 13 108.33% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 36 68.5 32.5 90.289; 

— or a total gain of 103.566%. 




Before 23 After 

Bertha S'EMLakowsky. Age, 15 years. Sixth 
Grade. Family of eight, six children. Father 
a tailor, employed nine months in the year. 
This child was suffering from liver trouble, 
having dizzy spells' often; and accompanying 
constipation. Her complexion; was of the worst 
kind, pasty, and the entire face covered with 
repulsive pimples. She was' unreliable and care- 
less. Was three years behind grade in her school 
work. Her mouth was in bad condition, having 
been entirely neglected. Teeth were badly de- 
cayed, some extraction being necessary. She had 
two exposed pulps needing devitalization ; the 
roots' were filled, and nine other teeth needing 
attention, requiring in all eight amalgam, six 
cement and three gutta percha fillings. Her 
mouth is now in good condition and she is faith- 
ful in tlie care of it. She is greatly improved, 
dizzy spells have disappeared, and the face has 
cleared, most of the eruption having disappeared. 
She has shown improvement in scholarship, be- 
havior, health and appearance. P.sychological 
tests show an increase of 63.82% in working effi- 
ciency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship. Attendance and Conduct, 
poor; Hfforf, fair. 

After: Scholarship and Conduct, fair; Effort, 
and Attendance, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory ; 50 51.55 1.55 3.1 % 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 77.55 90.75 13.2 17.02% 

Addition 25 29 4 16 %, 



Association bv op- 
posites ...." 12 42 30 250 

Quickness and ac- 
curacv of per- 
ception 51.5 68.5 17 33 

—or a total gain of 63.824%. 




Before 



24 



After 



Lii.LTAN Semlakowskv. Age, 13 years. Fourth 
Grade. Family of eight, six children. Father 
a tailor, employed nine months in the year. 

This girl was suffering from indigestion, con- 
stipation and headaches. Her complexion was 
sallow. Three years behind grade in her school 
work. Her mouth was in bad condition, requir- 
ing a good deal of time for her work. She not 
only neglected the care of her teeth, but was ig- 
norant of their use, and bolted her food, espe- 
cially meat. A prophylaxis was necessary at the 
very first before any impression could be made. 
She had a molar with exposed pulp which was 
devitalized and roots filled. Sensitive cavities 
were treated with silver nitrate and six other 
teeth required seven amalgam and one cement 
fillings. A marked change has now taken place. She 
now has beautiful teeth. Indigestion and con- 
stipation are cured. Pier complexion has cleared 
so wonderfully that it is about perfect, and she 
has developed into an attractive girl. P.sycho- 
logical tests show an increase of 918.384% in 
working efficiency for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship. Effort, Attendance and 
Conduct, poor. 

.'\fter: Scholarship and Effort, fair; .Attend- 
ance and Conduct, good. 



Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. 



Memory 38.25 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 42.9 

Addition 16 

.Association by op- 

posites 

Quickness and ac- 
curacv of per- 
ception 36.75 



36.45 

57.75 
17 

45 



1.8 

14.85 
1 



G or L. 
-4.7 %, 

34.62% 
6.25% 



45 4500 % 



-or a total gain of 918.384%.. 



57.25 20.5 55.75% 



29 




Before 25 After 

Frank Silverstein. Age, 15 years. Seventh 
Grade. Family of eleven, nine children. Father 
a tailor, not busy all the time. 

This boy was growing rapidly and was poorly 
nourished. He was a pale, languid looking boy, 
suffering with "heart trouble," and susceptible to 
colds. One year behind grade. His mouth was 
in bad condition, teeth decayed and coated with 
stain. Had two teeth with dead pulps, and one 
that was necessary to devitalize. Besides treat- 
ment, root filling and three amalgam and two 
cement fillings in these teeth, there were seven 
other teeth requiring nine amalgams. His mouth 
is now in good condition, and although he is not 
rolnist, he is better, and has had but three attacks 
with the heart, one severe and two slight, since 
a year ago last June. Formerly he would have 
severe attacks weekly. He was quarantined last 
winter account of scarlet fever in the family, and 
although he helped nurse five of the younger 
children in the family, did not contract the disease 
bimself. The attending physician attributed his 
imnnmity to his healthy physical condition. In 
school the past year he did in twenty-four weeks 
the same work regularly done in thirty-eight 
weeks, and was graduated for High School in 
h'ebruary instead of June. Psychological tests 
show an increase of 46.844% in working efificiency 
for the year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship, fair; Effort, Attendance 
and Conduct, good. 

After: Scholarship and Attendance, good; Ef- 
fort and Conduct, excellent. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 46.6 51.6 5 10.73% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 56.1 69.3 13.2 23.53% 

Addition 45 59 14 31.1 r/r 

Association by op- 
posites 55 84 29 52.72% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacy of per- 
ception 31 67 36 1 16.13%, 

— or a total gain of 46.844%. 




26 
Joseph Todd. Age, 16 years. Seventh Grade. 
Family of eight, six children. Father is over- 
seer of Coal Club at the Hollenden. 
Had always been a delicate child and under 
treatment with the doctor to supply bone ma- 
terial. Did not walk until three years of age. 
Did not enter school until seven years of age. 
At ten, had typhoid fever. One year behind 
grade in his school work. His mouth was in 
very bad condition, teeth and gums diseased. He 
had nine teeth decayed, requiring four treat- 
ments, seven amalgam, four cement, and four 
gutta percha fillings. The improvement here has 
been general. He is much stronger and brighter, 
and seems equal to anything. Judging from the 
condition in which we found him one would not 
have thought it possible to obtain such results. 
Last year he did in twenty-four weeks the same 
work regularly done in thirty-eight weeks and 
was graduated for High School in February in- 
stead of June. Psychological tests show an in- 
crease of 35.984% in working etificiency for the 
year. 

School record. 

Before: Scholarship, Effort and Conduct, fair; 

Attendance, regular. 

After: Scholarship, Effort, Attendance and 

Conduct, good. 

Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. GorL. 

Memory 61.45 59.75 1.7 —2.76% 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 47.85 57.75 9.9 20.68% 

Addition 15 22 7 46.67% 

Association by op- 
posites 37 71 34 91.89% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacv of per- 
ception 52.25 64.5 12.25 23.44% 

—or a total gain of 35.984%. 




Before 27 After 

Helen Wright. Age, 13 years. Seventh Grade. 
Family of four, two children, h'atlier a bill 
clerk for the Nickel Plate R. R. 



30 



This child had indigestion and sick licadachcs ; 
and was weak and nervous. Her mouth was in 
bad condition, both teeth and gums. She had 
twelve teeth with cavities rcMjuiring seven amal- 
gam and ten cement hllings. Since her dental 
work was completed, she has grown robust, and 
the' sick headaches and indigestion have disap- 
peared. Last year, in her school work she did in 
twenty-four weeks the same work regularly done 
in thirty-eight weeks and was graduated for High 
School in February instead of June. When ex- 
amined for gymnasium at her school they re- 
ported her in perfect physical condition (this 
was in the spring of 1911.) Psychological tests 
show an increase of 32.414% in working efficiency 
for the year. 

ScJwol record. 

Before: ScliolarsJiip, Aifciidaitcc and Coiiditcl, 
good; Effort, fair. 

After: Scholarship and Atlciidaiicc, good; Ef- 
fort and Conduct, excellent. 



Psychological record. 

Before After Dif. G or L. 

Memory 29.9? 43.2 13.25 44.247o 

Spontaneous as- 
sociation 75.9 80.85 4.95 6.527o 

.Addition 29 32 3 10.357o 

Association bv op- 
posites ....' 59 82 23 38.98% 

Quickness and ac- 
curacv of per- 
ception 42.75 69.25 26.5 61.98% 

—or a total gain of 32.414%. 

* * * 

All examination blanks' or test cards and 
records made or collected in connection with 
this class experiment have been preserved and 
will be submtited for investigation and verifica- 
tion to those who may question the correctness 
of the facts and statements presented above. 



TPIE BOAED OF EDUCATION 

EDUCATIONAL, DEPARTMENT 



WILLIAM H. ELSON 

SCPEBINTEfTDKNT OF SCHOOLS 



H. C. MUCKLKY 

W. E. HICKS 

F. P. BACHMAN 

AaSISTANT ScPEHINTF-NnENTS 



Cleveland, July 27, 1911. 
Dr. W. G. Ebersole, 

800 Schofield Bldg., Cleveland, Ohio. 

My dear Dr. Ebersole : I attended your splen- 
did program last evening and it occurred to me 
that you were entitled to some facts we have at 
this office. The hour was' so late at the close of 
the program that I hesitated to break in with 
this information. 

Two years ago while visiting in the summer 
time^ at a small town in a Western state, I told 
a dentist there of this great movement in Oral 
Hygiene. His opposition to the movement ap- 
palled me, and I therefore resolved that I would 
keep a very close account of the movement with- 
out being a part of it. As, you well know, you 
have noticed no particular activity on my part 
in connection with this work. 

That the pupils of Marion School, who were 
under special observation, made great progress 
has been proven beyond question. That is signi- 
ficent in itself, but the benefit has not been, wholly 
confined to the twenty-seven children. We have 
eighty-five buildings in the city and 65,000 ele- 
mentary pupils. Twenty of these buildings dur- 
ing last year made more double promotions than 
they made non-promotions. :\ double ptomo- 
tion. you understand, is from a fourth to a sixth 
grade, or a promotion over a division of a grade. 
In general these twenty buildings are situated in 



what we call a district where the people are well 
to do. Among these twenty buildings, however, 
is included Alarion. The record of Marion 
School on the subject of non-promotions and 
double promotions, as compared with the ad- 
joining districts is as follo\vs : 

School Non-Promoted 

No. Pupils Double- Promoted 

Brownell 1135 387 383 

Sterling 749 338 169 

South Case 961 357 345 

Longwood 870 621 136 

Mavflower 1273 510 362 

Harmon 729 291 54 

Marion 823 205 341 

You notice that Marion School is the only one 
in that territory that as a building shows more 
double promotions than non-promotions. The ex- 
ample, therefore, of these pupils has been con- 
tagious and the results are shown as a building 
result as w-ell as a result of a select class, the 
twenty-seven pupils. 

1 trust that 1 am not presumptive in giving you 
this data which to me seems accumulative in es- 
tablishing the success of your "clean teeth" cru- 
.sade. 
With best wishes, I am, 

Very sincerely yours. 

WARREN E. HICKS. 
Assistant Superintendent. 



31 



OHIO STATE DENTAL SOCIETY 



FORTY-SEVENTH AXNUAT^ MEETING 
CIXCINNATI, OHIO, DEC. 3-1-5, 1912 



rrcsidcni. C K. CONVKRSK, "> Mitcliell BldsT-. Springfield. 
1st N'icePresident. W. A. Pkice, Cleveland. 
2nd \ice-Presideht. I. K. Douclas, Sandusky. 
Secretary, F. R. Chai'MAN, 3(i5Schult/ Bldg., Columbus. 
Treasurer, S. V. Kuggles, Portsmouth. 



Ednca/ini! and Oral Hygiene : 

\\ . T. Jackman. Chairman. 

8C)9Schotield Bldg., Cleveland. 
L. L. Zarbaugh, 
E. W. Martindale. 



Cleveland, O., Feb. 23, 1912. 
Dr. W. G. Ehersole. 

SOO Schofield Bldg., Cleveland, O. 

.My dear Sir: You have asked me to express 
my ()])inion as to the value of the dental experi- 
ments which were conducted in the Cleveland 
Pulilic Schools. Complying with this request, 
will say that to my mind these experiments are of 
the utmost importance to the general public, for 
through them has been obtained for the first time 
data which enables us to estimate the importance 
of maintaining healthy mouths. They also show 
the improvement that can be made by correcting 
faulty conditions and teaching the proper care 
and use of the mouth. 

The finding of 97% of the mouths of public 
.school children diseased or faulty, and the mar- 
velous improvement shown in the Marion School 



Dental Experimental Class when these defects 
were corrected, should and will lead to the rapid 
awakening of all the people to the necessity of 
teaching and praticing Mouth Hygiene. What 
was done for these children was a demonstration 
of the truth and was, therefore, scientific. 

These experiments have made it possible for 
Educational Authorities and Governments, Munic- 
ipal, State and National, to see and know the 
value of Mouth Hygiene; and we feel that the 
world at large owes those who instigated and 
carried out these experiments a deep debt of 
gratitude. 

Very truly yours, 

W. T. JACKMAN, Chairman. 

Education and Oral Hygiene Committee of the 
Ohio State Dental Society. 



BOAh-n OF cr.ysoKS 

W. A. SIDDAIX. 

1102 New England Building 

W. S. SYKES 

W C. STILLSON 



7405 Detroit Avenuy 

H. R. C. WILSON 

O J SAVERS 



PROC.KA M COM Ml TTE L 

D. H. ZIEGLER 

714 Ros« BuildiOK 

W C. TETER 

G. D. LOVETT 



(Srganijtii Srcrmbcr Jlourli). 1BS6 



J THORNE NEWTON. Phesident 

1315 New England Building 

VARNEY E. BARNES, Vice-President 

867 Rose Building 

H. C. KENYON. Recokdino Secretary 

730 Rose Building 

J. R. OWENS. CoRRCspoNniNG Secretary 

1412 New England Building 

E. H SHANNON. Financial Secretary 

^164 Rose Building 

7 B JOHNSON. Treasurer 

1050s Superior Ave. 

H. L. AMBLER, Critic 

1956 East Seventy-ninth Street 



CLINIC COMMITTEE 

5. M WEAVER 
620 Rose Building 

G. H WILSON 
H. L. AMBLER 
V E. BARNES 

6. T. LOVETT 
E. L. PETTIBON.^ 



EDUCATION AND 

ORAL HYGIENE COMMITTEE 

W. C. EBERSOLE 

800 Schofield Building 

FRANK ACKER 

J. R. OWENS 



Cleveland, O., Feb. 24, 1912. 
Dr. W. G. Ehersole, Chairman, 
Oral Hygiene Committee, 

National Dental Association. 

Dear Sir: You have asked us to express our 
opinion of the work and results obtained in the 
experiment with the class from Marion School 
of this city. 

There are so many influences that stimulate 
action and result in improvement in mind and 
l)ody, that ha-rd and fast statements of cause and 
result are sure to be questioned. 

The fact of choosing those children lifted 
them out of the class of humdrum mediocrity and 
aroused in them an interest in life. To that in- 
terest was attached the hope of gain, i. e., the five 
dollar .gold piece. These incentives probably im- 
proved their attendance, made them more alert, 
and proba])ly helped to improve their conduct. 
However, we notice that where the worst condi- 
tions prevail, when corrected, there is the great- 
est improvement. While the five dollar gold piece 
may have been an incentive to these children in 
the beginning, it is well to note 'that this gold 



piece was presented to the children before the 
work was' half completed, and the Principal re- 
ports that the children were just as faithful dur- 
ing the last half of the experimental stage as 
they were when the five dollar gold piece was 
in view. This shows one of two things, either 
that the five dollar gold piece was not so much of 
an incentive as might be expected, or that at the 
end of the first six months of the experimental 
period the children had derived so much benefit, 
of which they were themselves aware, that they 
were glad and willing to continue the experiment 
to the end of the period. We are convinced that 
anyone who has a filthy mouth and has it cleaned, 
will rise in his own estimation. We further be- 
lieve that if extreme unsanitary conditions arc 
removed, his health will be improved. If, due to 
that filth there are putrescent pulps and abscesses, 
and they are removed and the teeth put in good 
repair, a greater improvement in health will be 
obser\*ed. If there are exposed pulps, and there 
were many such, the disposition of a saint will 
be disturbed. If they were properly disposed of 
the mind and body would rebound to peace and 
comfort, where there had been agony that irri- 



32 



tated and distracted the mind and indirectly in- 
fluenced the welfare of the whole being. 

With no intelligent instruction in the care of 
the mouth, as far as prophylaxis is concerned, or 
of the food and how to masticate it, there could 
not but be a great improvement with that ignor- 
ance corrected, and from an anaemic, a change 
to a rosy face should be expected. 

From filthy mouths, pus producing fistulas, ex- 
posed pulps and bolted food, to clean mouths, 
clean healthy teeth, clean healthy stomachs, there 
must be a change from disease to health. 
With a healthy body there will tend tn be a 
healthy, alert mind, and an aspiring soul. All 



these nuisl result in l)eller scholarship, bet- 
ter iiianhood and womanhood. What the per- 
centage of gain will be is of little matter. It 
means more efficiency and a fuller, happier life 
and that is sufficient reason for the adoption of 
dental hygiene and the dental clinic in our public 
schools. 

Yours very truly. 

Education and Oral Hygiene Committee 
Cleveland Dental Society. 

J. R. OWENS. Chairman. 
FRANK ACKER, 
H. R. C. WILSON. 



THE IJOABl) OF EJ)UCA TIOX 

lODUCATIONAI. DEPAUTMENT 



HARRIRT L. KEELBR 

SCPEKl>TENr>ENT OF ScHC 



Cleveland, O., Feb. 6, 1912. 
Dr. W. G. Ebersole, 

800 Schofield Bldg., City. 

My dear Dr. Ebersole : I am very glad to add 
a few words of testimony to the value of the 
movement in Oral Hygiene, inaugurated in this 
city by the National Mouth Hygiene .Association. 

The splendid experiment at our Marion School, 
the details of which are so ably and clearly set 
forth by Miss' O'Neill, principal of the school, 
proves conclusively the value to children of the 
proper care of the teeth. Wherea> these chil- 
dren prior to the beginning of this experiment 
had been backward in their studies and trouble- 
some in their discipline, in one year's time they 
evinced what seemed to me normal activity in a 
variety of special tests. Indeed, the proposition 
that tile physical, mental, and spiritual well-being 
of the individual is greatly added to by sound 



teeth and clean mouth scarcely needs demonstra- 
tion since it is a part of the experience of al- 
most every individual. 

Your Cleveland experiment has. I liclieve, fullv 
demonstrated the practicability of making mouth 
hygiene a part of the general care of children, 
which they are now receiving at the hands of 
the public school authorities. We already have 
medical supervision, we watch the eruptions of 
the skin, the breaking out of contagious dis- 
eases', and minister as best we can to the little 
ailments of children, and along with this all, it 
seems to me that the more fundamental care 
which lies at the base of health, namely, provid- 
ing children with power to thoroughly masticate 
their food, might be made a part of the general 
hygienic supervision. 

Verv truly yours, 

H." C. MUCKLEY. 
Assistant Superintendent. 



THE HOARD OF EDUCATION 



EDUCATIOXAI. DEPARTMENT 



HAHBIET L. KEELBR 

SUI'EIIINTENDENT Of ScIlOOT.S 



Cleveland, O., Feb. 6, 1912. 
Dr. W. G. Ebersole. Chairman, 

Oral Hygiene Committee of the National 
Dental Association, Cleveland, Ohio. 

Dear Doctor: I have been greatly interested 
in the activities of advocates of Oral Hygiene 
in our public schools. T have watched the ex- 
l^erimcnt with care and am pleased to advise that 
the results have been gratifying. I have been 
particularly impressed with the results at Marion 



School. Pupils have gained in health and abil- 
ity to work. The promotion record of Marion 
School places it in the highest rank with any of 
the schools in the city, and I assign as' cause for 
this splendid result, the Irabits of the pupils 
stinnilatod by the Oral Hygiene. 

I shall be gratified if I can contribute to the 
extension of this experiment in other buildings 
and cities. Very sincerely, 

WARREN E. HICKS. 
Assistant Superintendent. 



33 



fiOJKD Of Ci:,\'iOKS 

W. A. STDDALL. 

IlltJ New England Building 

W. S. SYKES 

W C. snixsoN 



MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE 

W. F CHAPIN 

T40S Detroit Avenue 

H. R. C. WILSON 

O J SAYERS 



PKOGKAM COM.\n TTEE 

D. H. ZIECIXK 

714 Rom Kuildinc 

W. C. TETER 

G. O. LOVETT 



(Drgantjril Srrrmfarr J^oiirlli, IBBB 



J THORNE NEWTON. President 

1315 New England Building 

VAKNEY E. BARNES, Vice-President 

867 Rose Building 

H. C. KENYON. Recording Secretary 

730 Rose Building 

J. R. OWENS. CORRESPONniNG Secbbtar 

U12 New England Building 
E. H- SHANNON. FIN 



1956 Eaflt Seventy-ninth Street 



CLINIC COMMITTEE 
S. H. WEAVER 
620 Rom Buildiog 
G. H. WILSOH 
U. L. AHBI^R 
V. E. BARNES 
0. T. LOVETT 
E. L. PETTIBONB 



EDUCA TION AND 

OkAL HYGIENE COMMITTEE 

W. C. EBERSOLE 

800 Schodeld Building 

FRANK ACKER 

J. R. OWENS 



RESOLUTIONS. 



Passed Monday evening, October 2nd, 1911. 



WiiERK.\s: The Oral Hygiene Committee has, 
througii its report tonight, completed its labor, 
and with the presentation of the Experimental 
Class of twenty-seven pupils of Marion School 
of the City of Cleveland, demonstrated a certain 
improvement of 99.8-)-% in working efficiency, as 
psycliological tests supplemented by other re- 
ports from the school officials clearly show ; and, 

WnERE.\s: This work has become world known 
and from its very nature will serve as a basis 
from which other workers in this field may ob- 
tain data, therefore, 

RESOLVED : That the sincere thanks of this 
Society are extended to the following: The 
Board of Education of the City of Cleveland ; 
Superintendent Elson ; z^ssistant Superintendent 
Hicks; Director Chas. Orr; Miss Cordelia L. 
O'Neill and her able corp.s' of assistants — whose 
co-operation so freely given has made possible 
this valuable report ; to Mrs. VanGastle the 
nurse in charge of the Class ; The Dental Manu- 



facturers' Club for large financial assistance and 
dental equipment loaned ; The National Denial 
Association and the Ohio State Dental Society, 
who through the Chairman of their Committees 
on Oral Hygiene have contributed largely; to 
the Oral Hygiene Committee, present and past, 
of this Society; W. G. Ebersole, J. R. Owens, 
F'rank Acker, W. .^. Price, and to all others who 
have in any manner contributed to the success 
of the work, and. 

Whereas : What is known as the Cleveland 
Plan, including the Marion School Experimental 
Class, is' the plan formulated and put into opera- 
tion by our fellow member, W. G. Ebersole ; and, 

Whereas: This Society lias l)een highly hon- 
ored thereb}', therefore, 

RESOLVED: That we freely and fully ac- 
cord him credit for the same and direct these 
resolutions be spread upon the minutes of this 
Society. 

Signed. J. T. NEWTON, Pres. 

H. C. KENYON, Sec'y. . 

Offered by HENRY BARNES, 
Seconded by W. T. JACKMAN. 



THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH TUBERCULOSIS OCCURS 
AMONG PUBLIC SCIIOOIi TEACHERS. 



This booklet is published not only for the 
purpose of improving the condition of the public 
school child, but is published in the interests of 
the Teaching Profession as well. 

Eor many years the writer has been contend- 
ing that the conditions surrounding the teaching 
profession rendered that calling a rather hazard- 
ous one. Owing to the unhygienic conditions 
which prevail in the public schools of this coun- 
try, the teachers are brought into contact with 
children suffering from practically all kinds of 
ills and ails. Much of their time is spent with 
children, 97% of whom have faulty or diseased 
mouths, and are constantly throwing into the 



atmosphere all kinds of pathogenic micro-organic 
life. 

The teaching of Mouth Hygiene and the proper 
care and use of the mouth, would do more to 
relieve this condition than any other one thing 
which can be introduced into our public schools 
at the present time. The writer believes that 
practically 95% of all tubercular infection takes 
place either in or through the oral cavity, the 
moutli. With healthy, well-kept mouths the 
danger in this direction would be almost nil. 

In support of our contention we beg to quote 
from "PUBLIC HEALTH," published by the 
Michigan State Department of Health, which is 
self-explanatory, 



34 



TUBERCUI.OSIS a:mong public sciiooj. teachers. 



"Ill making a study of the occupational rela- 
tion to tul)erculosis, one cannot help being im- 
pressed by the frequent occurrence of tubercu- 
losis among school teachers. A careful study 
of the following table will give a very compre- 
hensive idea of the situation: 

Over a period of years' 52.4'/^ of the deaths 
among school teachers, between the ages of 25 
and 34, were due to tuberculosis, while only 25.8% 
of the deaths among all persons in Michigan, 
between the ages of 25 and 34, were due to this 
disease. Among school teachers of all ages 
27.6% of the deaths were due to tuberculosis, 
while among all persons' of all ages only 9.4% 
were due to this disease. 

This is a matter which should engage the 
active attention not only of teachers, but of the 
patrons of the public schools. It would appear 
from our data that the conditions unJer which 
public school teachers labor are conducive to 
tuberculosis. This is. in a great many instances, 
an easily established fact. Now, this ought not 
to be. The school teacher, who should be con- 
sidered as the most valuable fact^or in the es- 
tablishment of an efficient citizenship, should not 
be required to work under conditions which are 
relatively more conducive to the occurrence of 
tuberculosis than other professions. 

Extreme precaution should be observed by 
school commissioners and Boards of Education 
to prevent teachers who are aflfected with tuber- 
culosis from continuing in the service. This 
should be done in the interest of the teacher and 
in the interest of the pupils. The solution of the 
situation, however, should not rest simply with 



the attempt to prevent infected teachers from be- 
ing employed. The school officials and the pa- 
trons' of our public schools should be united in 
an effort to remedy the existing conditions, that 
the public school room can in no sense be con- 
sidered as a place in which one's health is sub- 
jected to unfavorable conditions. A more active 
interest in considering the principles of proper 
construction, warming, ventilating, and lighting 
of school buildings will go a great way towards 
remedying this situation." 

The above is one of the strongest pleas Jor 
teaching Mouth Hygiene that has been published 
by the Health Department of any State in the 
Union. The writer has also contended that the 
public school teachers of the country are not 
paid salaries which are commensurate with the 
obligations that are placed upon them in the 
fulfillment of their duties. 

The question of Mouth Hygiene, as presented 
in connection with the Educational Campaign of 
the National Mouth Hygiene Association, is an 
economic or educational one, and the installa- 
tion of dental inspection and instruction in the 
schools means a tremendous' saving to the states. 
or to the municipalities, as is shown in the re- 
port made to the Board of Education, and the 
writer believes that the Boards of Education 
throughout the country should install dental in- 
spection and instruction, and then spend part of 
their savings in increasing the salaries and bet- 
tering the environments of the public school 
teaching profession. 

W. G. Ebersolk. M. D.. D. D. S. 



\ 



35 



APR 8 \m 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



029 453 116 6 



